Berlin, February 19, 2024 One in three heating systems is older than 20 years, a study by the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industry (BDEW*) recently found. On average, German heating systems have almost 14 years behind them: according to BDEW, oil central heating systems last 17.7 years and gas central heating systems last 12.4 years. Although these systems still work, they often use more energy than necessary and are more expensive than intended. The updated federal funding for efficient buildings now helps homeowners with the individual measures sub-program (BEG EM) to decide to replace their heating system and, despite the necessary investment, to reduce energy use and costs in the future.
At the beginning of the year, the BEG EM made it possible to support various individual measures around the house without an efficiency house goal, including the renovation of the building envelope and the replacement of the heating system. The share of heat pumps in heating technologies has more than doubled since 2019. The new federal funding BEG EM, which has been in effect since January 1, 2024, focuses on this energy- and cost-efficient technology. Anyone who still has to buy fossil fuels for their heating today and whose best years are already behind them should invest in a heat pump, recommends the Heat+ initiative. Together with the funding, this investment will be worthwhile. “An air/water heat pump is particularly suitable for replacing heating systems in existing buildings. It can be used in almost any building and can also be set up outdoors. Indoors, the space required is no greater than for the traditional boiler,” says the Warmth+ initiative with.
Owners of self-occupied single-family homes can receive a grant of up to 23,500 euros and a low-interest loan through the BEG EM for the purchase and installation of an efficient, climate-friendly system. According to current information, an application is expected to be possible from February 27, 2024 via the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) portal.
What requirements do homeowners have to meet?
The first step is to register in the KfW customer portal. It must then be checked whether an energy efficiency expert needs to be involved when submitting an application for funding for the desired measures. “As part of the application, a concluded delivery and service contract with a qualified specialist company is expected,” sayswärme+. If you start the measure by August 31, 2024, the funding application can be submitted by November 30, 2024.
Is the heat pump also suitable for older houses?
Thanks to technical developments, it is now possible to use heat pumps efficiently in older buildings. What matters is less the age and more the energy level and the heat distribution system of the building. Heating systems with a low flow temperature – ideally at 35 to 40 degrees Celsius and therefore well below the 50 to 70 degrees Celsius of older oil and gas heating systems – can be easily combined with a heat pump.
In order to achieve a comfortable temperature in the house, the heating surfaces that transfer the heat to the room air should be appropriately large. Underfloor and wall heating are ideal for this. As an alternative to the complex installation of underfloor heating, the existing radiators can be replaced with larger or special low-temperature radiators with a significantly larger heat transfer area.
“You should also choose a high-temperature heat pump that was specifically developed for installation in existing buildings. It works with propane as a refrigerant, which means that flow temperatures of up to 75 degrees Celsius are technically possible, even when outside temperatures are around freezing point,” adviseswärme+. In general, it is helpful to assess the energy condition of the building in advance during an energy efficiency consultation and to take possible renovation measures into account. For example, it could make sense to replace the windows before installing the heat pump and thus reduce the heat requirement.
Those interested can find further information about heat pumps and electrical home heating technology on the Heat+ initiative website: www.waerme-plus.de.
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*) Study: How will Germany heat in 2023? | BDEW
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