Costs, Assistance, Tax Credits, and Varieties of Heat Pumps Detailed
Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular choice for heating homes due to their environmental benefits and potential for cost savings. The German KfW program 458 offers subsidies of up to 70% of the costs for heat pump installation, making them more accessible for homeowners.
The operation of heat pumps generates some noise, so it's recommended to invest in a quiet model and consider the installation location carefully. In existing buildings, a better building envelope and a larger heating surface will result in a more efficient heat pump.
Heat pumps work by transferring energy from the environment to a coolant via an evaporator, compressing the coolant, and then giving off the heat to the heating system. They are considered very environmentally friendly as they do not require additional fuel such as coal, oil, wood, or gas.
The costs of geothermal heating are around 50-75 € per month, but electricity costs vary regionally and by provider. However, special heat pump electricity is generally cheaper than the general electricity tariff.
For households with an annual income of up to 40,000 €, additional loans from KfW (programs 358, 359) are available, amounting to a maximum of 120,000 € per residential unit.
State funding can also be obtained by declaring the costs for a heat pump in the tax return, with up to 20% of the costs for energy-saving building renovations, such as a new heating system, spread over 3 years, with an upper limit of 40,000 €.
Heat pumps can be combined with other heating systems, such as a gas heating system or a photovoltaic system, forming a hybrid heating system. They have a lifespan of 15-20 years, even longer with regular maintenance.
When choosing a heat pump, it's recommended to consult a specialist installer or energy advisor and carry out careful planning and heating load calculation. Stiftung Warentest examined several air-to-water heat pump models in 2023 and 2024, with all models performing well and being suitable for heating a single-family house, even an old building. However, there are significant differences in energy efficiency and annual electricity costs between the devices.
Starting February 2024, state funding is available for heat pump acquisition and installation through KfW, with grants awarded for residential buildings more than 5 years old replacing old heating systems with heat pumps. The costs for an air heat pump including installation are approximately between 10,000 and 35,000 €. A ground heat pump costs between 12,000-45,000 €, and a water heat pump costs between 15,000-35,000 €.
There are four types of heat pumps: air-water, ground-water, water-water, and ground. Heat pumps can generate up to 4.5 or even more than 6 kWh of heat from a single kilowatt-hour of electricity, making them a climate-friendly heating solution.
The Ministry of Economics offers an online suitability analysis to determine if a building is suitable for a heat pump and recommends the next steps on the way to a heating modernization. A heat pump transports energy from the environment into a house and converts it into heat, making it a versatile and efficient heating option for almost every building, especially in new construction with well-insulated houses and floor heating.
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