Heat pumps in old buildings: Energy advice gives tips for efficient heating and cost savings

Heat pumps in old buildings: Energy advice gives tips for efficient heating and cost savings

According to a report by www.landkreis-wuerzburg.de The consumer advice center's energy advice dispels myths about the use of heat pumps in old buildings and gives tips on how heat pumps can also be used efficiently in older buildings.

Heat pumps obtain their heat from the environment - from the air, the ground or the groundwater - and are low-temperature heaters that only heat the heating surfaces in the house to 35 to 55 degrees Celsius. This saves energy, but requires larger heating surfaces. When using heat pumps in old buildings, it is important to look for the optimum of larger heating surfaces and better insulation in order to be able to use a heat pump efficiently.

The costs for a heat pump including installation are between 20,000 and 50,000 euros. Despite the higher purchase costs, heat pumps are subsidized by the state with up to 40%, as they are an important part of the desired heating transition. Choosing between a gas heater and a heat pump can result in significant savings in the long term. According to Peter Kafke, energy expert at the consumer advice center, the operating costs for a gas heater can be up to 85,000 euros after 15 years, while the same house with a heat pump only costs 80,500 euros.

Using a heat pump instead of a gas heater also significantly reduces CO2 emissions. For a house with an annual consumption of 25,000 kilowatt hours, this means a reduction from 5.45 tons of CO2 for a gas heater to 3.6 tons of CO2 for a heat pump.

The annual performance factor describes the efficiency of a heat pump and is an important criterion in the decision. An annual performance factor of 3 should be aimed for at least in old buildings. The consumer advice center's energy advice offers extensive advice to support consumers in their decisions.

This makes it clear that the heat pump is a promising heating technology for old buildings that can not only be more cost-effective, but also make a significant contribution to climate protection.