ᐅ Mandatory heating system rental for new builds – is that allowed?
Created on: 17 Nov 2022 11:23
M
Maulwurfbau
Hello Forum,
I’m new here.
We plan to build and have come across a problem that is causing us a lot of headaches. I would like to hear your opinions on it.
A new residential development is being established in our town. Based on the developments of the last few months, the chances of us getting a plot are quite good. Fewer people want to build now. Money is tighter.
The building regulations are very strict. Among other things, a heat supply concept was developed in cooperation with the local utility company, which to me feels more like a stimulus program for the utility than anything else. But maybe I’m missing something.
For noise reasons, ground source heat collectors are being used, which the utility company is installing over a large area. The heating technology comes from the utility and can be used for a fee for either 10 or 15 years. The costs are outrageous compared to a standard air-to-water heat pump system for a KfW 55 or KfW 40 house.
Regarding the costs:
A one-time construction subsidy and connection fee of about €25,000 (approximately $27,000) must be paid. This covers the collector installation and connection to the network. Then, depending on the capacity of the heat pump provided, a monthly basic fee/service charge for availability of roughly €200 to €280 (approximately $215 to $300) per month for 6 kW must be paid for 10 or 15 years. On top of that, there are the actual heating costs, which here are about 8 cents per kWh (approximately 8 cents per kWh).
I am quite upset because the builders
1) cannot choose their own technology
2) are forced to design their energy system to fit into the utility’s infrastructure
3) am tied to paying the utility a fixed fee for 10 or 15 years
4) after this period, have to either install their own technology at their own expense (there is only a lifelong right to use the heat source) or continue with the utility’s system, possibly with further payments
5) it is not allowed/foreseen to couple the photovoltaic system to the heat exchanger, only to the household electricity (Is this really sustainable?)
What do you think? Of course, geothermal energy is much more efficient than air heat pumps, but if I add everything up, I will have paid between €58,000 and €64,000 (approximately $63,000 to $69,500) over 10 or 15 years (connection costs + technology rental + service fees, etc.) to the local utility, and that doesn’t even include the actual heat costs, which will be additional. I don’t own anything, and after 10–15 years, I have to deal with more costs to figure out what to do next.
I find this extremely exploitative and more like a sustainable stimulus program for the local utility rather than a truly sustainable heating concept.
What am I missing? This whole thing is being sold to the builders as especially sustainable. Environment and all that. And nobody complains; they are building like crazy.
I’m new here.
We plan to build and have come across a problem that is causing us a lot of headaches. I would like to hear your opinions on it.
A new residential development is being established in our town. Based on the developments of the last few months, the chances of us getting a plot are quite good. Fewer people want to build now. Money is tighter.
The building regulations are very strict. Among other things, a heat supply concept was developed in cooperation with the local utility company, which to me feels more like a stimulus program for the utility than anything else. But maybe I’m missing something.
For noise reasons, ground source heat collectors are being used, which the utility company is installing over a large area. The heating technology comes from the utility and can be used for a fee for either 10 or 15 years. The costs are outrageous compared to a standard air-to-water heat pump system for a KfW 55 or KfW 40 house.
Regarding the costs:
A one-time construction subsidy and connection fee of about €25,000 (approximately $27,000) must be paid. This covers the collector installation and connection to the network. Then, depending on the capacity of the heat pump provided, a monthly basic fee/service charge for availability of roughly €200 to €280 (approximately $215 to $300) per month for 6 kW must be paid for 10 or 15 years. On top of that, there are the actual heating costs, which here are about 8 cents per kWh (approximately 8 cents per kWh).
I am quite upset because the builders
1) cannot choose their own technology
2) are forced to design their energy system to fit into the utility’s infrastructure
3) am tied to paying the utility a fixed fee for 10 or 15 years
4) after this period, have to either install their own technology at their own expense (there is only a lifelong right to use the heat source) or continue with the utility’s system, possibly with further payments
5) it is not allowed/foreseen to couple the photovoltaic system to the heat exchanger, only to the household electricity (Is this really sustainable?)
What do you think? Of course, geothermal energy is much more efficient than air heat pumps, but if I add everything up, I will have paid between €58,000 and €64,000 (approximately $63,000 to $69,500) over 10 or 15 years (connection costs + technology rental + service fees, etc.) to the local utility, and that doesn’t even include the actual heat costs, which will be additional. I don’t own anything, and after 10–15 years, I have to deal with more costs to figure out what to do next.
I find this extremely exploitative and more like a sustainable stimulus program for the local utility rather than a truly sustainable heating concept.
What am I missing? This whole thing is being sold to the builders as especially sustainable. Environment and all that. And nobody complains; they are building like crazy.
Tolentino schrieb:
The amounts seem too high to me for thatMost public utilities have to cross-subsidize other services (public transportation, swimming pools, etc.) with the revenues from energy sales and grid fees, and not insignificantly. If there are any profits left at all, they usually go to the shareholders, typically the local municipality or city.
M
Maulwurfbau29 Nov 2022 10:30Additional information.
No, the costs do not include all the infrastructure expenses. They only cover the cost contribution for the installation of the geothermal collectors (20,000€) and the connection to the collector network in the residential area (5,000€).
The system technology is provided at the costs mentioned in the first post. As I said, for just 25,000€ to be able to participate in this heat supply, you could equip an entire single-family house with complete heating and domestic hot water technology, including underfloor heating on all floors. I mean complete.
Of course, the pure costs for heating would probably be somewhat higher in comparison. But hey, I currently live in a house built to KfW 55 standard with an air-to-water heat pump. Heating and domestic hot water cost me around 900€ per year with four people living in the household (2 adults and 2 small children). In the possible new home, it would be significantly more over the next 15 years, and actually also thereafter.
I just can’t grasp the concept, nor see where the benefits for me lie, except that I would hand over responsibility for my heating system, which for me personally is rather a disadvantage because it creates dependence. At the moment, I only see benefits for the local utility company.
No, the costs do not include all the infrastructure expenses. They only cover the cost contribution for the installation of the geothermal collectors (20,000€) and the connection to the collector network in the residential area (5,000€).
The system technology is provided at the costs mentioned in the first post. As I said, for just 25,000€ to be able to participate in this heat supply, you could equip an entire single-family house with complete heating and domestic hot water technology, including underfloor heating on all floors. I mean complete.
Of course, the pure costs for heating would probably be somewhat higher in comparison. But hey, I currently live in a house built to KfW 55 standard with an air-to-water heat pump. Heating and domestic hot water cost me around 900€ per year with four people living in the household (2 adults and 2 small children). In the possible new home, it would be significantly more over the next 15 years, and actually also thereafter.
I just can’t grasp the concept, nor see where the benefits for me lie, except that I would hand over responsibility for my heating system, which for me personally is rather a disadvantage because it creates dependence. At the moment, I only see benefits for the local utility company.
M
Maulwurfbau29 Nov 2022 10:48Oh, I almost forgot, this was also a question here.
The current heating costs of around 8 cents / kWh are not fixed for the entire period...
The current heating costs of around 8 cents / kWh are not fixed for the entire period...
W
WilderSueden29 Nov 2022 10:55The additional information doesn't change the issue that you have no choice. Either you take the plot with the obligation to use local heating or you don’t. It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do about it.
M
Maulwurfbau29 Nov 2022 11:14WilderSueden schrieb:
The additional information doesn’t change the issue that you have no choice. Either you accept the plot with the mandatory district heating connection or you don’t take it. It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do about it. I definitely won’t do it, but I still find it interesting to discuss such significant topics.
It may be a straightforward, almost digital decision for some. For others, it’s certainly the case that they prioritize their personal wish to own a house above all else and accept compromises wherever they can just to live in their own home. Everyone has their reasons.
At least for me, it was important to talk about it.
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