ᐅ New single-family house construction with a gas heating system, but without solar panels

Created on: 29 Jun 2015 17:49
H
Hirsl
Hello everyone,

I have already searched on Google, but I couldn’t find a suitable answer for our specific project.

In short: We want to build a single-family house. It will have a gas heating system, but I want to avoid solar panels, heat pumps, or other alternatives (please don’t question the reasoning behind this).

Here are some key details:
- Single-family house, about 153m² (1646 sq ft) of living space on 2 full floors plus a full basement
- 365 mm (14.4 inch) exterior wall, T10 bricks, possibly T9 bricks
- No KfW funding!
- decentralized ventilation system with heat recovery
- wood stove on the ground floor

Of course, I know that the Energy Act (EEnG) requires a certain percentage of energy consumption to come from renewable sources.

My question is: Under the above conditions, is it sufficient to simply choose an eco-friendly gas tariff from the energy supplier, allowing me to avoid installing solar panels, additional insulation, heat pumps, or similar measures? Or is it mandatory to install solar panels on the roof?
lastdrop29 Jun 2015 21:23
The energy saving regulations still had to be met. Perhaps your architect has already calculated this?
H
Hirsl
29 Jun 2015 21:30
Basically, the solar panel system (about 6m² (65 square feet)) was always included in the offer, so it was clear that the energy saving regulations would be met.

Now I started wondering: Is it really necessary? Could the energy saving regulations possibly be fulfilled by choosing a slightly more expensive eco-friendly tariff for gas (and/or electricity)?

If I decide to do without the solar panel system, this will definitely be noted in the construction contract as the system being installed “by the owner,” so the contractor is not responsible. But that makes sense, of course.
M
Manu1976
29 Jun 2015 21:45
Our neighbors are just two people as well, and they rave about their solar system. Even in winter. Their gas consumption is very low. And in summer, their heating is basically turned off. The hot water is heated only by solar energy. You also have to look at it this way: although you have more technology, it will last longer because it is used less frequently.
I wouldn’t do without the solar system. I wouldn’t cut costs in this area.
Y
ypg
29 Jun 2015 21:56
There are only two of us as well – and every morning, when the sun’s rays warm the roof and I let the warm water gently cascade over my skin, I get such a nice feeling of saving.
Lassemann29 Jun 2015 22:08
I can definitely understand hirsls’s point. A payback period of at least 25 years (before maintenance and repair costs)! As much as I like the idea of alternative energy for properties… it really just doesn’t make financial sense, and it certainly doesn’t look good either.
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merlin83
29 Jun 2015 22:18
I have not yet seen a calculation where solar thermal proved to be cost-effective.