Step by step house got fit for future
Those who modernize now will benefit from lower energy costs and greater independence in the long term. This example shows that even an older building can be made fit for the future.
- Maximum self-sufficiency in a detached house
- Highly efficient system technology from Viessmann
- The perfect interplay of system-integrated components exploits the high performance potential of innovative cutting-edge technology
Allendorf (Eder), 08/16/2024 – Those who act with foresight now and make their home fit for the future can benefit in the long term. On the one hand, state subsidies have never been as attractive as they are today: the state will cover up to 70 percent of the costs of replacing an old gas or oil heating system with a heat pump. On the other hand, modern building technology saves money in the long term. This is because owners can be sure that the energy consumed is being used particularly efficiently. With the modular solutions from Viessmann Climate Solutions, homes can be made future-proof step by step, as the example of a 20-year-old detached house in northern Hesse shows.
Viessmann Climate Solutions is part of Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions. For more information, visit https://www.viessmann-climatesolutions.com/en.html.
Maximum self-sufficiency with Viessmann climate solutions
“My aim was to be as self-sufficient as possible in the long term,” explains Marc Franken, who moved into the 140 m² house, which was built in 2002, with his family a few years ago. The previous owner had already made sensible investments for his time, for example in a hot water heat pump and a gas boiler. There were also photovoltaic modules on the roof that fed surplus electrical energy into an electricity storage unit. But of course, it was an outdated collection of components that was gradually brought up to date by the subsequent owners.
First step: expansion of the photovoltaic system and a new electricity storage unit
First of all, the photovoltaic system was expanded with additional Vitovolt modules and the old electricity storage unit was replaced with a modern Vitocharge VX3. Thanks to the house's favorable location, it can now generate its own electricity starting from sunrise. Enough to power the usual household appliances and to be a little less dependent on the public power supply.
The Vitocharge VX3 electricity storage system stores the solar power generated but not consumed during the day for use in the evening and at night. One of its particular advantages is its modular design, which allows it to be adapted to almost any individual requirement. Each of its up to three battery modules can store 5 kilowatt hours of electricity. If more capacity is required, up to five Vitocharge VX3s can be connected together, so that up to 75 kilowatt hours of electricity are available.
It was only logical to install a Viessmann Charging Station to charge the family's electric car with cost-effective and climate-friendly solar power. This wallbox is designed for simple, safe and efficient charging operation over many years and offers up to 11 kW charging power so that the car can be used again after a short time. In combination with the other Viessmann system components in the house, in particular the electricity storage system and the ViCare app for controlling the system, users can always fully control the charging process.
Second step: Installation of a modern heat pump for space heating and hot water preparation
The next step on the road to energy self-sufficiency was to replace the old hot water heat pump and the gas boiler with the Vitocal 252-A air/water heat pump. Thanks to the generously extended photovoltaic system, it runs on self-generated electricity for large parts of the day. As a heat pump of the latest generation, it is particularly suitable for modernization and has an integrated 190-liter cylinder for the convenient supply of hot DHW.
Innovative technology and the natural refrigerant R290 enable high flow temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius to be achieved without any problems, even at very low outside temperatures. The high coefficient of performance (COP) of up to 5.3 (for A7/W35, in accordance with EN 14511) ensures that one kilowatt hour of electricity and the energy from the outside air can generate more than five times heat for heating living spaces and hot water.
Smart radiator thermostats also save energy
In addition to the installation of the new heat pump, the existing radiators were fitted with intelligent ViCare thermostats that control the heat supply in each room individually and in an energy-saving manner. Residents can set the desired temperature in each room remotely using a smartphone and the ViCare app. The thermostats' “window open” function detects when a window in the room has been opened and then automatically reduces the heat supply to the radiator - so no precious heat is lost unused.
The thermostats, which communicate wirelessly with each other and with the ViCare app and the heating control system, also carry out the TÜV-certified hydraulic balancing that is so important for economical energy consumption. This ensures that every room receives exactly the heat needed and that no radiator is too warm while others remain cold. The hydraulic balancing, which used to be very time-consuming and had to be carried out manually by the installer, is now carried out fully automatically by the ViCare components - thus saving a significant amount of heating energy in the process.
All Viessmann systems on one platform
All systems for generating electricity and heat have the standardized Viessmann One Base operating system. Only the free ViCare app, which also integrates comprehensive energy management, is required for quick and easy operation via mobile devices. The platform connects all appliances and electronic applications at home to create a unique climate and energy solution. Users benefit from lower energy consumption thanks to intelligent energy management, a smaller CO2 footprint thanks to the integration of self-generated PV electricity and a constantly updated overview of running costs. Viessmann One Base thus makes your own home fit for a climate-friendly future!
Positive summary from the homeowner
“In the beginning, I was ridiculed by family, neighbors and friends when I told them about my plans to modernize our house,” reports Marc Franken ”But that quickly subsided when I was able to show on my iPad how efficiently the new energy system generates electricity and heat. And, above all, how little we were still drawing from the public grid. The modular solution from Viessmann runs absolutely reliably on the standardized operating system.”
