Boom in heat pumps - What is important for whom the investment is worthwhile
Created: 04/05/2022, 08:45
By: Markus Hofstetter
Heat pumps are the new heating standard in new private buildings.
However, they are not always the right choice for old buildings.
© Daniel Maurer/dpa-tmn
The heat pump is considered the environmentally friendly and future-proof alternative to oil and gas heating.
But it is not always the right type of heating.
Munich – The new federal government has made a lot of plans for climate protection.
The building sector is also affected.
According to the coalition agreement, from January 1, 2025, every newly installed heating system should be operated with 65 percent renewable energy.
One way to achieve this goal is provided by heat pumps, which are considered to be particularly environmentally friendly.
Because a heat pump draws its heating energy from the environment, be it water, earth, outside air or exhaust air.
The type of heating is still a niche, according to the
FAZ
only 2.8 percent of the 43 million apartments in Germany have a heat pump.
But she is coming.
Over 40 percent of new buildings were equipped with it last year.
Reduce heating costs with heat pumps: especially suitable for new buildings
The heat pump is also best suited for generally well-insulated new buildings, since they consume electricity.
It becomes difficult in older buildings.
If the heating system needs to be replaced, be it because of a defect or for reasons of age, the heat pump is not always the best choice; its operation can be really expensive in poorly insulated buildings due to high power consumption.
Energy consultants and heating installers who take stock can offer decision-making aids.
They determine the condition of the systems in the house, how high the consumption is and how this can be reduced.
Incidentally, the state subsidizes energy advice with 80 percent of the fee and a maximum of 1300 euros for one- and two-family houses.
Reduce heating costs with heat pumps: Rising gas prices make them attractive
A heat pump can also be worthwhile in view of rising gas prices*.
According to the FAZ
, a comparison portal has calculated an average gas price of 2596 euros
for a single-family house with a consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours per year .
That is around 85 percent more than six months ago.
According to this, a heat pump that has an annual performance factor (SPF) of 4 and thus requires around 5000 kilowatt hours of heat pump electricity for 20,000 kilowatt hours of heat only costs 1573 euros.
In this sample calculation, a heat pump would pay for itself within ten years at a price of 20,000 euros including government subsidies.
However, the actual savings depend on the individual house.
The better it is insulated, the lower the consumption.
In addition to the pure expenses for the heat pump, however, there are sometimes additional expenses, for example for new radiators.
However, the state supports homeowners.
The federal government supports the initial investment in renewable energy hybrid heating, biomass and heat pump systems with 35 percent.
There is a surcharge of ten percentage points if the new system replaces an oil heating system.
Reduce heating costs with heat pumps: You shouldn't wait long when it comes to implementation
If a heat pump is suitable for a house, the owner should not wait long to implement it.
Because the demand for these heaters is high and is likely to continue to rise*, the prices will probably also go up.
Added to this is the shortage of skilled workers, customers already have to wait a long time for craftsmen.
This problem is more likely to worsen than abate.
*Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
