New single-family house construction without a basement - necessary tips and recommendations

Hello everyone,

we want to build a single-family house and are slowly becoming very uncertain about what is necessary and what should best be implemented.

We want to build a single-family house without a basement, so the living area should be around 140m², as a study room is to be set up on the ground floor. We would like a brine-water geothermal heating system. Additionally, a ventilation system, cistern, and photovoltaic system for electricity.

But every provider says something different.

Therefore, my questions:

Prefab/solid house? Solid offers better sound insulation and a more valuable house.
Which heating? Geothermal? Air heat pump? Important here also, what about the electricity costs then? We want low additional costs.
Ventilation system necessary? Central/decentral? Is window ventilation sufficient?
Photovoltaic? Is it worthwhile? Probably only with storage?

If you have questions or need more information, just ask. If this belongs in another subforum, feel free to move it.

If there is already a topic with tips for new builds, please just link it and I will take a look.

Hello,

these are pretty general questions that can probably often only be answered with "depends":

Prefabricated house/solid house? Solid better sound insulation and more valuable house.

That probably depends more on the manufacturer whether it is valuable or not.

Is a ventilation system necessary? Central/decentralized? Is ventilating through the windows enough?

It is not necessary, rather a luxury/comfort. You can also ventilate only with windows if you manage to do this several times a day in all rooms. If we hopefully build soon, I would choose a central controlled residential ventilation because the comfort is worth the price to me.

Photovoltaics? Is it worthwhile? Probably only with storage?

Photovoltaics is generally worthwhile, but not with storage. The prices for storage are still too expensive at the moment, so it will never pay off. The prices for the modules are currently quite cheap, so the system usually pays off after 7 - 10 years. Of course, this depends on the purchase price and your solar exposure (roof orientation, roof pitch, shading, etc.)

Which heating? Geothermal? Air heat pump?

Short answer:
Geothermal: Higher acquisition costs, but usually lower electricity costs.
Air heat pump: Lower acquisition costs, but may require electric heating at very low temperatures.

Thank you for the answers.

Controlled residential ventilation: It is not necessary, but rather a luxury / comfort. You can also ventilate just with windows if you manage to do that several times a day in all rooms. If we hopefully build soon, I would choose a central controlled residential ventilation because the comfort is worth the price to me.

What would this comfort be for you then? Not having to ventilate all the time and also saving energy/heating costs through heat recovery?

Photovoltaics usually pay off, but not with storage. The prices for storage are currently still too expensive, so it will never pay off.
The prices for the modules, on the other hand, are currently quite cheap, so the system usually pays off after 7 - 10 years. Of course, this depends on the purchase price and your solar radiation (roof orientation, roof pitch, shading, etc.)

The orientation of the roof should be on the south side without major shading in our case. Does this then mean only using the currently produced electricity or otherwise feeding it into the grid and receiving a remuneration for it?

What would that comfort be for you? Not having to always ventilate and also saving energy/heating costs

I think that new build houses are now so airtight that some kind of ventilation must definitely be installed. You can’t keep up by just opening windows to ventilate. In new builds, a central controlled residential ventilation system is installed, decentralized systems are for retrofitting and I think have no advantages in new builds, rather disadvantages. I don’t want to live without controlled residential ventilation anymore. You always have fresh air, which thanks to filters is also pollen-free. Strong cooking odors disappear overnight. Humidity can also be better regulated. In addition, you can save energy through a heat exchanger (is that what it’s called, I’m not sure right now). Regarding the heating source: it depends on many factors, e.g. whether geothermal energy is allowed or space is available, what heating load the house needs, and so on...

First, get a plot of land. Second, then you have a specific location around which you can look for a builder; and first, the plot or the applicable development plan for it significantly influences the shape the house can have.

Then build what the builder has experience with, that minimizes execution errors. This applies not only to the building material he is most familiar with, but also when it comes to heating and climate issues, you should not let him venture into new territory. So make your choice only between options he is "experienced with."

Brick by brick does not objectively have to be necessary - but subjectively it does, if your banker has a cardboard-box shack image in mind regarding "prefabricated houses."

Does this then mean only consuming the currently produced electricity or otherwise feeding it into the grid and receiving compensation for it?

Exactly. Above all, feeding into the grid currently brings the profit. Self-consumption is then the additional bonus. A high self-consumption would be optimal, but not always feasible, as most people are not at home during the day when the sun is shining and thus cannot consume the produced electricity.