ᐅ KfW 70 or Home Ownership Program – Which Is More Cost-Effective?
Created on: 4 Nov 2012 11:20
M
mad-zero
Hello everyone,
My partner and I want to build a turnkey solid house but are still somewhat undecided about the home technology and its financing.
Several acquaintances recommended a local builder who constructed their houses. We actually felt fairly advised by the contact person at this company, and we also received the most affordable offer from them. Two other providers were significantly more expensive even in the basic package, and we got the impression they were trying hard to sell us a ground-source heat pump.
The house from the preferred provider is expected to cost around €161,000 (approximately $174,000) in the basic package (“energy-saving house” with 150 sqm (1,615 sqft) of living space and facing brickwork). Additional possible costs would be:
- Single-flue chimney (for the fireplace we want) for €3,500 (approximately $3,800)
- Triple-glazed windows with a five-chamber system for €1,800 (approximately $1,950) (extra charge compared to double glazing)
- Controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery for €8,500 (approximately $9,200)
- Solar system with 4.5 sqm (48 sqft) collector area and 300-liter (79-gallon) water storage tank for €5,500 (approximately $6,000)
Included in the base price are a gas condensing boiler with weather-compensated control and night setback, as well as flat panel radiators.
We are now wondering: KFW70 or home ownership program? This decision will certainly be influenced by the expected effectiveness of the solar system. The roof slopes will face east and west, which is less than ideal for solar collectors. In addition, about 20 meters (66 feet) west of the house there are tall oak trees providing a lot of shade.
Roughly calculated, the KFW70 loan would be about €7,000 (approximately $7,600) cheaper in the first ten years (until repayment via a home savings contract) than the loan from the home ownership program. This would cover the extra cost of materials and installation for the solar system. But what additional costs should we expect to realize the building project as a KFW70 energy-efficient house? “Organizational efforts” and costs for system maintenance are hard for me to estimate.
In the providers’ brochures, ground-source heat pumps sound appealing: independence from fossil fuels and long service life. However, based on what I have read from independent guides, rising electricity costs and difficult-to-assess efficiency put ground-source heat systems in a very different light. For cost reasons, we have also distanced ourselves from such a solution.
Are there other economical options to take advantage of the attractive conditions of the KFW70 loan without relying on solar energy or ground-source heat?
I would appreciate your independent opinions and experiences on this topic.
Best regards,
Dennis
My partner and I want to build a turnkey solid house but are still somewhat undecided about the home technology and its financing.
Several acquaintances recommended a local builder who constructed their houses. We actually felt fairly advised by the contact person at this company, and we also received the most affordable offer from them. Two other providers were significantly more expensive even in the basic package, and we got the impression they were trying hard to sell us a ground-source heat pump.
The house from the preferred provider is expected to cost around €161,000 (approximately $174,000) in the basic package (“energy-saving house” with 150 sqm (1,615 sqft) of living space and facing brickwork). Additional possible costs would be:
- Single-flue chimney (for the fireplace we want) for €3,500 (approximately $3,800)
- Triple-glazed windows with a five-chamber system for €1,800 (approximately $1,950) (extra charge compared to double glazing)
- Controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery for €8,500 (approximately $9,200)
- Solar system with 4.5 sqm (48 sqft) collector area and 300-liter (79-gallon) water storage tank for €5,500 (approximately $6,000)
Included in the base price are a gas condensing boiler with weather-compensated control and night setback, as well as flat panel radiators.
We are now wondering: KFW70 or home ownership program? This decision will certainly be influenced by the expected effectiveness of the solar system. The roof slopes will face east and west, which is less than ideal for solar collectors. In addition, about 20 meters (66 feet) west of the house there are tall oak trees providing a lot of shade.
Roughly calculated, the KFW70 loan would be about €7,000 (approximately $7,600) cheaper in the first ten years (until repayment via a home savings contract) than the loan from the home ownership program. This would cover the extra cost of materials and installation for the solar system. But what additional costs should we expect to realize the building project as a KFW70 energy-efficient house? “Organizational efforts” and costs for system maintenance are hard for me to estimate.
In the providers’ brochures, ground-source heat pumps sound appealing: independence from fossil fuels and long service life. However, based on what I have read from independent guides, rising electricity costs and difficult-to-assess efficiency put ground-source heat systems in a very different light. For cost reasons, we have also distanced ourselves from such a solution.
Are there other economical options to take advantage of the attractive conditions of the KFW70 loan without relying on solar energy or ground-source heat?
I would appreciate your independent opinions and experiences on this topic.
Best regards,
Dennis
Micha&Dany schrieb:
....In this particular case, I would consider applying the 15% rule. If economic feasibility is given here, I wouldn’t waste any thought on shading... You are not wrong here; you can hardly harvest any solar energy in the shade, no matter what type of use it is. Micha&Dany schrieb:
....just the insignificant opinion of someone who (of course only as a hobby) has been designing photovoltaic power plants for years... Then you should know that a single-family house is subject to completely different conditions. Regardless, you first need to determine the demand for heating and hot water; how this demand is then sensibly and economically met is always the second side of the coin! ;-)
Best regards