Renovation to create an modern apartment building
Apartment house modernisation
- The apartment building with eight residential units is not well insulated and, together with the old gas heating system, causes high ancillary costs. Through a complete renovation, the investor upgrades the entire building and thus creates an attractive capital investment.Learn more
- The comprehensive renovation requires cost-intensive investments and a skilful selection and coordination of the future building services.Learn more
Converting from gas to environmental heat
The apartment block in a popular Frankfurt suburb is currently vacant. A businessman is intending to modernise the building to meet the KfW energy-efficient house standard – a project that could act as a model for other buildings in need of renovation.
The investor definitely wants to rent out the apartments again after renovation. To this end, the 1980s building will not only be brought up to current technological standards, it must also fulfil energy-efficiency requirements for at least the next 20 years. The businessman will exclusively use renewable energy sources to meet these criteria.
The thermal insulation must be replaced and brought up to modern standards throughout the entire building. This includes replacing all windows and exterior doors. But well-insulated buildings have an insufficient supply of fresh air, which increases the risk of mould formation.
Therefore, it is sensible to install ventilation ducts as well. All in all, the cost and the amount of work required are high.
Reasons for choosing this heating system
After consulting construction advisors and energy consultants, the homeowner decides to replace the existing gas heating system with a heat pump. The project also includes the installation of a ventilation system on each floor as part of the overall building services concept.
The selected system configuration combines heating and ventilation technologies that are commonly used in residential building applications. The heating and ventilation systems are integrated into the overall building design and technical installation concept.
Heat pump systems use energy from their surroundings. They do not need any fossil fuels. The electricity required to run them is converted into heat with great efficiency. The owners can generate this electricity using an on-site photovoltaic system installed on the roof. This reduces the amount of grid electricity needed to run the system.
Modern appliances feature practical automatic functions. More and more manufacturers are starting to equip their systems with smart home interfaces and provide apps for controlling the systems from a smartphone. These allow the owners to monitor and adjust the appliances even when they are not at home.
Building and System Modernisation Project
The project includes the renovation of the building envelope as well as the installation of a heat pump and a ventilation system with heat recovery. The selected system configuration combines heating, ventilation and building modernisation measures within a single project concept.
Available funding programmes and eligibility requirements should be reviewed according to the applicable regulatory framework and programme conditions. The heating and ventilation systems are integrated into the overall building services concept for the property.
The project is designed to combine building renovation measures with updated heating and ventilation technologies. The selected system configuration forms part of the overall building concept and should be assessed against the applicable technical and regulatory requirements.
Support for Your Home Project
Choosing a heating, ventilation or energy system for a home can involve a range of technical and project-related considerations. WOLF provides information and planning resources to support the assessment of different system options and project requirements.
Renovating older buildings is worthwhile
By optimising the building envelope of the old apartment block and coordinating the systems precisely, the owners can run the heating system exclusively using renewable energy. This also makes the project eligible for attractive subsidies and will be extremely convenient for future tenants when it comes to heating their apartments. Furthermore, the building will continue to fulfil efficiency requirements in coming years.
