Project: Swap from oil to gas hybrid

Hybrid solution using gas & solar energy

Single-family house modernisation

  • The two live in a large detached house from the 1990s with 200 m2 of living space, low thermal insulation and an aging heating system.
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  • Despite the less than optimal thermal insulation, Manfred and Luise would like to install a more environmentally friendly, efficient heating system and, if possible, also incorporate renewable energy sources.
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Heating efficiently and sustainably in older houses

Manfred and Luise want to renovate the oil heating system in their detached house. Read on to find out about the challenges they face and how they overcome them.

Manfred and Luise want to make the most of their home

The couple are in their late 50s. They live in a relatively large detached house 200 m2 in size. It is an older building in good condition. However, Manfred and Luise want to replace their old oil heating system.

 

They want to take the opportunity to bring their heating system up to date with modern, energy-saving appliances. They want to install a sustainable solution without having to turn the entire house upside down. 

Project challenges

Manfred and Luise are considering how to improve their carbon footprint and if they could heat their home solely using renewable energies. But to do so would involve optimising their thermal insulation (very expensive) and replacing all the radiators as their heating requirements are comparatively high.

 

The couple does not want to take on such an extensive renovation project at this point. Therefore, they are thinking of heating with gas but do not have a suitable connection.

New build apartment house

Reasons for choosing a hybrid solution

Their heating contractor informs them that they can run their heating system from an LPG tank without needing to be connected to the gas mains and that renewable energies are not impossible. For a variety of reasons, they decide to replace their old oil boiler with a modern combination of a gas condensing boiler and solar thermal system.

03. Future-proof and efficient

Gas condensing boilers are currently the most energy-efficient way of heating with fossil fuels. Old oil heating boilers are inefficient and obsolete due to their high levels of pollutant emissions. This is also reflected by the current statutory requirement to replace this kind of heating system and the future ban on their installation.

04. Environmentally responsible

The ecological aspect can be addressed by combining the boiler with a solar heating system. These modules use solar heat and do not emit any CO2 or other pollutants.

Just 4 m2 of collectors would be enough to cover Manfred and Luise’s hot water requirements. However, as the system is also intended to support the heating system, a larger area would be required. The higher the proportion of solar energy used for household heat production, the less often the boiler has to step in. A further advantage: some modern gas boilers can be operated using biogas, which is more environmentally friendly.

Environmentally friendly

05. Space-saving

Manfred and Luise will have to install an LPG tank in their garden but can also scrap the oil tank previously required in their home, which means they gain additional space. In the garden, they can choose either an above-ground or underground tank. They decide to go with the underground variant for aesthetic reasons.

06. Low cost

If the couple use solar energy to generate backup heat, they will consume less gas. This will push down the cost of heating. At the same time, the increasing price of fuels will not be such an issue for the household budget.

Product solutions for Manfred and Luise

As their heating contractor was so helpful with their modernisation plans, they followed his advice when choosing specific products and opted for the manufacturer WOLF. They particularly like the five-year guarantee and the fact that the appliances are developed and produced in Germany.

WOLF Gas boiler TGB-2

TGB-2 gas condensing boiler

This heating boiler is perfect for renovation projects because it can be set up just about anywhere and takes up very little room.

The performance of this modern boiler technology speaks for itself with an outstanding central heating efficiency of 94% and energy efficiency class A. A boiler with 20 kW output is perfect for the couple.

 

WOLF flat-plate collectors F3-1 and CFK-1

F3-1 flat-plate collector

The collectors absorb free solar heat and feed it into the heating system.

Flat-plate collectors offer particularly good value for money.

WOLF combi storage tank

BSH thermal storage cylinder

This space-saving thermal storage unit is used to link the heating boiler and solar thermal system for DHW heating and central heating backup.

Sounds complicated? Not for us!

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Why this combination is ideal

Manfred and Luise have shown that it is certainly possible to modernise their heating system and make it energy efficient even though the structural conditions are unfavourable. They managed this without complex measures, such as replacing the entire heating system and thermal insulation of the building.

 

Even just using a modern gas condensing boiler and combining this with solar heat significantly improves their energy consumption and reduces the cost of heating. Moreover, if they are connected to the gas mains in the future, they will not need to invest in another suitable boiler.

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