Renewable energies in an apartment block
New build apartment house
Efficient technology for all occupants
The planned building is a new apartment block containing three to four residential units in an urban location. The premium-segment property is intended to appeal to occupants who appreciate the combination of superb comfort and modern climate-friendly technology.
The city-centre building is also a calling card for the developer. The outer appearance and satisfaction of the new tenants or owners with their living situation affect the public reputation of the investors and so have an influence on their future commercial success. At the same time, the contractor wants to fulfil their responsibilities and create a building with the best possible ecological footprint.
In order to be able to use exclusively renewable heating technology, the building itself must first meet several requirements. These include good thermal insulation and air-tight construction. A south-facing roof orientation without any shading is also important and would be ideal for a potential solar heating system.
But even if the structural requirements are met, the heating technology components must be perfectly coordinated. Only then can the high investments produce the desired results.
Reasons for choosing the heating system
The developer wants a future-proof system that is environmentally responsible and not reliant on fossil fuels or other fuels. They ultimately select a hybrid solution that combines exclusively renewable energies.
A heat pump heating system draws energy from the environment. Nowadays, systems are available that can generate sufficient quantities of heating energy for apartment buildings. The solar thermal system on the roof is used as a secondary renewable heat generator and also ensures that heating and hot water requirements are adequately covered. A ventilation unit is vital to ensure that the indoor environment is fresh and healthy.
Cost-effective in acquisition and operation
Since the hybrid heating system uses renewable energy sources and the entire building is expected to achieve an efficiency house level, the builder can take advantage of government subsidies. This reduces the investment costs. And since no fuels are required for operation, this cost block is also completely eliminated.
Checklist for the building project
The investor must keep an eye on the following important points:
The building must have very good thermal insulation and be air-tight.
Solar heat requires the roof to be south-facing and have an inclination of around 30° to 70°.
The two heating systems are linked by a stratification cylinder.
Both heating systems work particularly well in combination with underfloor heating.
If the electricity required to run the heat pump is obtained from ecological sources or an additional photovoltaic system is present, this has a further beneficial effect on the ecological footprint of the new apartment block.
As the building envelope is air-tight, it is essential to employ a controlled ventilation system with heat and moisture recovery.
Optimum solution for modern apartments
The types of heating system selected for the hybrid system are efficient and environmentally friendly. Heating costs are low in the long term and not subject to the regularly rising prices of fossil fuels. They produce no CO2 at all during operation. In addition to the cost benefits for landlords and occupants, using cutting-edge technology also has a positive effect on the developer’s image.
