What do you think about the local heating offer?

Hello dear community,

we have finally found a plot of land and are now in the planning phase of our house, we are still at the very beginning, so nothing has been signed yet. We have envisioned about 160 sqm in size, probably prefabricated house construction with Kfw 40+ or KFW 55 with solar system.

The plot is located in a new residential area (ecovillage), a pilot project of the city of Kassel. In the settlement, no fossil fuels are allowed for heating, so gas and oil are out, and a fireplace is also not permitted. For heating, we have therefore considered an air-to-water heat pump or connecting to the local heating system of the Städtische Werke Kassel. Air-to-air heat pump is practically ruled out; at least one reads a lot of negative things about it here in the forum.

We really find it difficult to decide here, especially since we have no experience at all. The municipal utility company has provided an example calculation that seems quite high to us; due to lack of experience, it is also difficult for us to assess or compare this.

Local heating example:

Single-family house KFW 55 approx. 150 sqm
Heat consumption: 7000 kWh
Basic price (approx.): 1700 €/a
Work price (approx.): 1100 €/a

After researching here in the forum, the costs for an air-to-air heat pump are significantly lower, although these also apparently vary greatly. The local heating system naturally has the advantage that the entire heating system is eliminated; you only have a small box in the utility room, so the acquisition costs are very low.

What do you think of the offer from the Städtische Werke? One is very much tied to the monopoly and cannot just switch if the costs are raised, which is actually what we fear the most.

I thank you in advance for your answers

Just through the base price, you have amortized the acquisition costs including installation of the heat pump in under 10 years compared to district heating. Consumption will probably be around 700-800 € with an air heat pump and is therefore also cheaper.

The disadvantage is that you do not know how long the air heat pump will last.

You have less risk with district heating. Are there maintenance costs involved there?

Just through the base price, you have amortized the acquisition costs including installation of the heat pump in under 10 years compared to local heating.
Consumption will probably be around €700-800 with an air heat pump and is therefore also cheaper.

The downside is that you don’t know how long the air heat pump will last.

You have less risk with local heating.
Are there maintenance costs?

Thank you for the answer. That's also how we calculated it, which is why everything initially speaks for an air-to-water heat pump. There are no maintenance costs, at least that's also advertised everywhere as a big advantage.

That’s the question with an air heat pump, I don’t know when a replacement would be necessary, how high the maintenance costs would be, since I keep coming across values that differ wildly. One says 15 years, another 25 years, of course we would only use reputable manufacturers of the heating systems.

The example sounds more than unattractive if it reflects the real conditions. There is really no need to calculate for long. You should definitely plan the space and the heating surfaces for a heat pump in case you switch to a heat pump later. Also check whether there is an obligation to take district heating.

I was offered an air-water heat pump by the heating installer for about €16,000 + €4,000 accessories. It can be cheaper but also more expensive. If you are building with a general contractor, you do not have a wide choice in price and manufacturer. How long the heat pump lasts is not predictable. For real prices, you have to get quotes.

Important for every heat pump is good planning of the heating surfaces, even more important than the heat pump itself. For this, please consult Google and do not let the general contractor or tradespeople do it without control. The mentioned heating costs of €700-800 are conservative; with good planning and photovoltaics it can also be done for half. Maintenance is usually not necessary.

If, after further research on the internet, you trust yourself to do some own work or at least coordination in the procurement of the heat pump and at the same time find suitable craftsmen, then replacement and acquisition can become considerably cheaper. Google Ring trench collector or Panasonic Geisha.

You get a heating system provided and maintained for €1700 per year, and you don’t have to buy a system or build/allocate a converted room for it. In addition, you don’t pay any interest or can let your money work for you.

You are expected to pay €1100 per year in energy costs; a perfectly adjusted own system could run cheaper. The price development is likely to be quite parallel – the choice of electricity provider appears freer.

Roughly speaking, I would assess the offer as equivalent to an own system that has to be renewed every 15 years.

The offer is probably not the cheapest but quite carefree and certainly not overpriced.

Thank you very much for your assessments.

@

What exactly do you mean by "thick thumb"? Sorry, I don't know the expression.