ᐅ Help: Identifying the Causes of High Electricity and Water Bills
Created on: 19 Jun 2018 01:34
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Serina85
Hello everyone!
You have already helped me a lot before, so I’m giving it another try:
We visited a maisonette apartment for purchase: built in 1993, 4 rooms, 145 sqm (1560 sq ft), ground floor with only stairs from the private entrance to the apartment, bathroom and guest WC on the first floor, attic converted into 2 rooms. Gas-fired individual heating system from 2010 and water-based underfloor heating; hot water supplied by a condensing boiler.
The previous tenant, with 3 people living there, had the following consumption: gas 34,500 kWh (34,500 kWh) with a monthly payment of 220 €, electricity 5,500 kWh (5,500 kWh) with a monthly payment of 130 €. I find the electricity particularly high.
The roof is not insulated, wooden windows according to the building year, energy certificate for the entire building rates it as class E (162 kWh/m²/year) but actual consumption is 240 kWh/m²/year.
What puzzles me are the electricity costs. Could these be reduced by installing a new boiler? Insulating the apartment is difficult since it’s a condominium. We would have to pay for and get approval for interior insulation ourselves. I’ve heard this might not be good due to moisture issues? Would replacing the windows help? I am an absolute beginner in this. This apartment is beautiful, but with monthly building fees of 200 €, plus electricity and heating costs of 550 € only for utilities. Or is this normal for a living area of this size?
You have already helped me a lot before, so I’m giving it another try:
We visited a maisonette apartment for purchase: built in 1993, 4 rooms, 145 sqm (1560 sq ft), ground floor with only stairs from the private entrance to the apartment, bathroom and guest WC on the first floor, attic converted into 2 rooms. Gas-fired individual heating system from 2010 and water-based underfloor heating; hot water supplied by a condensing boiler.
The previous tenant, with 3 people living there, had the following consumption: gas 34,500 kWh (34,500 kWh) with a monthly payment of 220 €, electricity 5,500 kWh (5,500 kWh) with a monthly payment of 130 €. I find the electricity particularly high.
The roof is not insulated, wooden windows according to the building year, energy certificate for the entire building rates it as class E (162 kWh/m²/year) but actual consumption is 240 kWh/m²/year.
What puzzles me are the electricity costs. Could these be reduced by installing a new boiler? Insulating the apartment is difficult since it’s a condominium. We would have to pay for and get approval for interior insulation ourselves. I’ve heard this might not be good due to moisture issues? Would replacing the windows help? I am an absolute beginner in this. This apartment is beautiful, but with monthly building fees of 200 €, plus electricity and heating costs of 550 € only for utilities. Or is this normal for a living area of this size?
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fach1werk19 Jun 2018 07:58Was this an energy performance certificate based on actual consumption? It is significantly less expensive to produce than a certificate based on calculated demand. If it is consumption-based, it does not provide information about the temperature maintained using the listed amount of energy.
Were the previous occupants elderly? Ill? Severely underweight? Infants? For reasons like these, I have seen differences in heating cost statements of up to 2.5 times compared to, for example, single male tenants who often manage with surprisingly little energy.
I would ask the property manager instead of the real estate agent. The manager should be listed in the reports, which you should review anyway.
Best regards, Gabriele
Were the previous occupants elderly? Ill? Severely underweight? Infants? For reasons like these, I have seen differences in heating cost statements of up to 2.5 times compared to, for example, single male tenants who often manage with surprisingly little energy.
I would ask the property manager instead of the real estate agent. The manager should be listed in the reports, which you should review anyway.
Best regards, Gabriele
R
readytorumble19 Jun 2018 08:00Electricity usage depends entirely on the user, so I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on it.
Older appliances (fridge, chest freezer, TV, lights, etc.) consume a lot of electricity.
Gas consumption would also concern me more. Of course, this also depends heavily on the user. How warm do you keep the heating? There’s a significant difference between maintaining 22°C (72°F) and 20°C (68°F) indoors. Ventilation habits are also important. Night and day temperature reduction settings can easily be done incorrectly.
Older appliances (fridge, chest freezer, TV, lights, etc.) consume a lot of electricity.
Gas consumption would also concern me more. Of course, this also depends heavily on the user. How warm do you keep the heating? There’s a significant difference between maintaining 22°C (72°F) and 20°C (68°F) indoors. Ventilation habits are also important. Night and day temperature reduction settings can easily be done incorrectly.
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Deliverer19 Jun 2018 08:48Regarding wall insulation, I would actually start with it at the very end. Before that, energy is lost through the windows, roller shutter boxes, and roof. The adjustment "walls" is certainly the smallest factor and also one that rarely pays off.
The heating pumps in buildings from that construction year may not yet be demand-controlled. However, we are talking about maximum savings of maybe 100 euros per pump per year.
The heating pumps in buildings from that construction year may not yet be demand-controlled. However, we are talking about maximum savings of maybe 100 euros per pump per year.
Oh, thank you very much! Oh man, then the apartment probably isn’t an option. There are three parties among the owners, and only we would have full use of the attic space. The wooden windows would need to be replaced, and they have a special style (half-timbered house style :-), is that the correct term?). The homeowners’ association would have to agree, and we would most likely have to cover all the costs. From what I understand, the roof, door, and windows are common property. Is that correct?
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