ᐅ Ice heating and climate ceiling

Hello everyone,

I had to register because I couldn’t find any information about the "ice heating" system. Please correct me if there is already a topic on this.

I am currently considering which heating system to install in our house and came across the ice heating concept. I have done a lot of research online and had a consultation yesterday, but I’m interested in what forum members think about ice heating systems, as well as radiant cooling ceilings, and if anyone has experience with them?

Regarding the radiant cooling ceiling, I would like to add that I want a walkable, green flat roof – does this affect the performance of such a cooling ceiling, or is the roof already so well sealed that there is no heat loss anyway?

Thank you in advance 😀,

Alex92x-1

Hello, I had the opportunity to observe an ice storage heating system from Consolar in actual operation.

The advantage was that it only requires about 300 liters (80 gallons) of ice storage, unlike the ISOCAL system, which needs a tank either under the garage, in the garden, or in the basement, and about 10,000 to 20,000 liters (2,600 to 5,300 gallons) of water to heat a single-family home.

The main challenge with both systems is the initial investment cost as well as the operating expenses for the electricity used by the heat pump and the price of the heat pump itself, since no one can say how long such a pump will reliably perform its service. In the new building, the Consolar ice storage heating system only required 1,500 kWh per year because the house was new and equipped with underfloor heating. For a heating system that requires higher supply temperatures than 50°C (122°F), this technology is not suitable.

Estimate about 1 kWh of electricity for every 4 to 5 kWh of heating output to get an approximate idea of the electricity demand. With a heat requirement of 16,000 kWh (equivalent to about 1,700 cubic meters (60,000 cubic feet) of gas or oil), that results in approximately 3,500 to 4,000 kWh of electricity. Electricity for heat pumps is generally offered at a reduced rate, but no one can say if this will continue.

I believe this technology has a future, but at the moment only for low energy demand and reduced electricity costs. If in the future we can produce and store our own electricity cost-effectively, this will become a truly viable option.

However, I also think this is something for the future. But it makes sense to operate it with a solar system, meaning to generate your own electricity. The initial costs are still too high, and everything needs to be carefully calculated first.

I think a climate ceiling is quite good. Especially when the sun comes out, it provides a pleasant feeling. For now, the initial costs are still too high. But for the future, it is a good alternative.

A ground source heat pump is definitely a good solution. However, at the moment, the price is still too high for me. That may change in the coming years, and then I will consider it.

Be cautious with ice storage heat pumps. The concept is appealing and does work, but it requires a thoroughly professional and reliable design of the entire system, as well as a precise coordination of the heat pump capacity, ice storage volume, and collector output in relation to the geographic location of the house (fog, snow, etc.).

Only allow a heat pump expert to handle this, otherwise the project risks failing like a ship trapped in drifting ice floes.