Renewable heating

Biomass, solar or ambient heat - klimaaktiv informs about the use of renewable energy sources.

Apart from improving energy efficiency in all areas, using renewable energy sources for achieving the climate and energy goals set is particularly important. What energy source to use for heating? What all can be turned into biogas? How is it used? klimaaktiv answers these and many other questions. The focus here is on ensuring optimum and efficient supply and use of biomass, solar and ambient heat.

The right heating system for your home

Finding the right heating system and appropriate energy source for your home depends on many factors that may differ according to technical requirements and personal preferences.

First reduce heat demand, then select heating system

If you want the heat supply to your home to be CO2 free and – above all – cost-efficient, it is not enough simply to replace your old oil-fired boiler, for instance with a wood pellet one. First of all, there is significant potential for savings by improving the thermal quality of the building. Insulating the building envelope (top floor ceiling, basement ceiling and facade) and replacing the old windows should take priority over all other action. Having an energy performance certificate issued can be of assistance here, as the improvements made are evident and can be rated.

Harnessing the sun’s power

Making direct use of the sun’s energy by installing solar panels is the cheapest and most effective way of producing hot water, supporting the heating system and at the same time conserving the environment as well as possible. However, there is not always enough sunshine in winter to provide the required heating energy. A back-up heating system is therefore needed, which – preferably – uses renewable energy sources such as biomass or ambient heat from the groundwater, soil or air.

How do you find a suitable heating system?

The choice of optimum heating can be narrowed down to very few systems, depending on the building’s thermal quality (see the rating matrix for klimaaktiv heating systems).

Since the energy performance certificate was launched, the term building class has become standard in the property market. The building class reflects the calculated energy demand for maintaining an inside room temperature of 20°C in a building. Home owners (but also parties interested in renting or buying who have to be presented with the energy performance certificate before signing any contracts) thus get an idea of the future heating costs. And: the better the building class, the better the thermal quality of the building.

published at 03.02.2021