Space heating

A solar thermal roof is actually a combination of solar panels and a solar boiler. This PVT roof produces hot water and electricity from solar energy. Panels on the roof convert sunlight into electricity and ensure that solar heat is exchanged with water in the storage tank inside. The heated water can be used for tap water and for heating your building with the help of a heat pump.

• Produces both hot water and electricity and thus saves space
• Available as a separate panel or as a roof element with integrated insulation
• Suitable for flat and pitched roofs
• Saves energy
• Also functions on cloudy days
• The shorter the distance between collector and boiler, the higher the efficiency
• This is a relatively costly investment
• Space required for boiler, storage, buffer and/or boiler vessels
• Have the load-bearing capacity of the roof checked before installation
• Take into account the weight of the boiler vessel relative to the strength of the supporting structure

An (electric) air heat pump extracts energy from the outside air which can be used for heating tap water and for space heating. Electricity is used instead of gas. It is possible to go all-electric or install a hybrid system. In a all-electric system, the heat pump, in combination with a buffer tank, generates all the necessary heat for both heating and domestic hot tap water. You can also opt for a hybrid heat pump, whereby the heat pump only generates heat if it is above 4˚C outside. The all-electric heat pump only works in combination with a low-temperature delivery system, such as underfloor heating. It is important that your building is well insulated before you consider switching to low-temperature heating and a heat pump.

The air heat pump has an outside element and a smaller interior element. The outside element can be placed at various locations outside the building, taking into account possible noise production (not near windows) and whether the outside element is visible from the public space. The interior element is placed next to the boiler together with the buffer tank.

• Very sustainable
• Highly efficient system
• No ground source required
• Low-temperature heating and good insulation required
• Good positioning is important to prevent noise nuisance
• Keep sufficient distance around the outdoor unit
• The indoor and outdoor units can be placed at a maximum distance of 45 metres apart
• With an all-electric heat pump, correct dimensioning by means of heat loss is very important
• It may be necessary to upgrade the electricity connection, there are costs associated with this

Veel grotere panden hebben koelinstallaties voor de conditionering van het binnenklimaat. Deze koelinstallaties kunnen veel energie vragen. Daarnaast worden oude apparaten met bepaalde koelmiddelen (bijvoorbeeld R22) uitgefaseerd. Zoals bij meerdere thema's is beperken van de energievraag een eerste stap. Verlaag de koelvraag zoveel mogelijk door toepassen van isolatie, zonwerende maatregelen en vermijden van interne warmtebronnen. Verbeter bestaande installaties door te koelen met zo hoog mogelijke temperaturen en gebruik van goede regelingen op de installatie. Bij koelinstallaties komt veel warmte vrij. Probeer dit zoveel mogelijk nuttig toe te passen. Een koelmachine is ook toe te passen als warmtepomp, waarbij deze kan verwarmen óf koelen (tweepijps) of gelijktijdig verwarmen én koelen (drie- of vierpijps). 

• A heat pump can cool as well as heat. This is efficient and can save investment costs
• With a high cooling demand, a soil source or ATES is an economical solution. This does require a higher investment
• For new installations, pay attention to the type of coolant. Refrigerants with high GWP (Global Warming Potential) are being phased out
• Install a chiller that matches the demand. Too big or too small a chiller can lead to energy losses

If the heat demand is so high that it is not possible to heat with just a heat pump, a hybrid heat pump offers the solution. If it is really cold outside, below 5 degrees Celsius, it is difficult for the air heat pump to extract heat from the outside air. In the case of a hybrid heat pump, a gas-fired boiler will then switch on. Ask the installer whether your existing central heating system is suitable for this or opt for a new system with a heat pump and central heating boiler in one. The hybrid heat pump also uses a central heating system to heat tap water, so no buffer tank is required. It is also not necessary to switch to low-temperature heating, such as underfloor heating. Insulation and ventilation are required because otherwise, electricity consumption will become too high. For this reason, it is also interesting to explore whether you can combine the heat pump with solar panels. Most of the year, the heat pump will be in operation, which will save a lot of gas. And the costs of a hybrid heat pump are lower than those of other heat pump systems.

Keep in mind that air heat pumps have an external part. These must be carefully placed due to noise production, for example not near windows. It is possible to place a casing around the external part for noise insulation.

• Sustainable and efficient energy source
• Is also able to ensure cooling in summer (depending on the type)
• No ground source required
• Lower investment than for an all-electric heat pump
• Relatively limited impact on building and user
• Have the installer adjust when the central heating is switched on, indicating what you think is important, saving more gas or heating as economically as possible
• Although the delivery system does not always need to be adjusted, low temperature dispensing will lead to the highest efficiency
• This is always work for a professional installer
• Good insulation is required
• Good positioning is important to prevent noise nuisance
• The indoor and outdoor units can be placed at a maximum distance of 45 metres apart
• Keep sufficient distance around the outdoor unit
• It may be necessary to upgrade the electricity connection, there are costs associated with this

Heat pumps can extract heat from various sources. Well-known sources are air, soil and water. A less known source is solar heat. PVT (Photo-Voltaic-Thermal) panels or solar collectors can be used to extract solar heat and ambient heat. The absorbed heat is then increased by the heat pump for low-temperature heating. A solar heat pump is particularly suitable for buildings with a large roof surface area. A large absorption surface area is required to extract enough heat even on cloudy days. Cooling is only possible at night with this system.

• Saves energy
• No noise production
• Can be integrated with panels for electricity generation
• The panels can be aesthetically concealed in the roof surface
• This is a relatively costly investment
• Low-temperature heating and good insulation required
• Not always allowed with historically valuable properties
• Have the load-bearing capacity of the roof checked before installation
• Take into account the weight of the boiler vessel relative to the strength of the supporting structure
• The inner part and the panels can be placed at a maximum distance of 45 metres apart

Water in the surrounding area can be used to heat your building, such as a nearby lake, pond or moat. Heat is extracted from surface water in the summer. A heat pump increases the temperature, making it suitable for low-temperature heating. The investment is high compared to an air heat pump. This heating system is particularly suitable for buildings where the heat demand is high and people also want to cool. In combination with a thermal energy storage system, heat can be stored and the temperature in the water remains balanced. The construction of the water source is subject to permit requirements and life in the water must not be disturbed.  

• Saves energy
• This system enables sustainable and cost-efficient cooling, which is also necessary for a good source balance
• Sustainable and efficient energy source
• No noise production
• Low-temperature heating and good insulation required
• This is a relatively costly investment
• Let an expert advise you well in advance
• Life in surface water must not be disturbed
• Not applicable in water catchment area
• It may be necessary to upgrade the electricity connection, there are costs associated with this

A ground source heat pump uses thermal energy from the ground. At 55 to 100 metres below ground level, the constant ground temperature of 12 °C is extracted with a heat exchanger. A heat pump increases this thermal energy to a suitable temperature for low-temperature heating, maximum 55 degrees. A ground source is most suitable if you also use it to cool the building, for the purpose of regenerating the ground source over summer. This heat pump requires good building insulation, ventilation and possibly a new form of heating in your building, such as underfloor heating. The investment is higher than with an air source heat pump, especially because of the construction of the ground source. Keep in mind that you need a permit for this and that the garden must be accessible. With monuments, this can often be challenging.

• Saves energy
• Sustainable and efficient energy source
• No outdoor unit required
• No noise production
• Low-temperature heating and good insulation required
• Pay attention to good ventilation when insulating
• It is not possible and permitted to place a ground source anywhere
• Take into account the weight of the boiler vessel relative to the strength of the supporting structure
• With an all-electric heat pump, correct dimensioning by means of heat loss is very important
• It may be necessary to upgrade the electricity connection, there are costs associated with this
• With an all-electric variant, a boiler vessel is required for the hot tap water, which is placed next to the inner part of the heat pump

A ground-coupled heat exchanger is basically a storage for heat (or cold) deep in the ground. The system lies between 55 and 100 metres below ground level, and uses the constant ground temperature of 12 degrees Celsius. In summer, this temperature can be used to cool. In winter, 12 degrees Celsius is relatively warm and can therefore heat the water. A heat pump increases the temperature to make it suitable for low-temperature heating. A ground-coupled heat exchanger system is particularly suitable for heating at a district level or for large buildings. In other situations, such as for a residential home, an ordinary heat pump with a ground source is more suitable.

• Saves energy
• Sustainable and efficient energy source
• No outdoor unit required
• No noise production
• This system enables sustainable and cost-efficient cooling, which is also necessary for a good source balance
• Low-temperature heating and good insulation required
• This is a relatively costly investment
• It is not possible and permitted to place a ground source anywhere
• Take into account the construction of the ground source, there must be space to drill and if drilling in the backyard, this garden must be accessible for the excavators and drills
• It may be necessary to upgrade the electricity connection, there are costs associated with this
• With an all-electric variant, a boiler vessel is required for the hot tap water, which is placed next to the inner part of the heat pump

The heat released by waste and power plants can be used in some areas to heat residential areas and industrial estates. The residual heat from large power plants is collected in large vessels of water and channelled into the city via an underground pipe system. Buildings connected to district heating can use this heat for heating and hot tap water. Heat grids can operate at both high and low temperatures, in which case good building insulation and low-temperature heating, such as underfloor heating, are important.  

• Save 40-80% CO₂ depending on the heat source
• District heating often runs on a high temperature, so no adjustments to the delivery system are required
• Suitable for heating of tap water
• Requires no maintenance by occupant
• The Dutch Heat Act does not oblige you to connect to the heating grid
• Takes up little room
• The connection costs of district heating can be high
• Good insulation is recommended
• Environmental impact depends on the heat source
• Because the gas connection disappears, you also make the switch to electric cooking
• Take into account a relatively high standing charge

Most people opt for a Condensing boiler when their old central heating boiler needs replacing. On average, a boiler will last fifteen years, during which time boilers will have become more energy efficient. Modern condensing boilers use condensation heat and can therefore achieve a high efficiency. In addition, modern boilers can modulate and are better adjustable, so that they do not run at full speed with a small heat demand. With a new boiler, you can save up to 20% on the gas bill, which means you earn back your investment within a few years.  

• Efficient, economical, modulating
• This system uses gas
• Flue gas ducts must be replaced, can be complex

Een gebouwbeheersysteem wordt steeds vaker ingezet om de installaties optimaal te kunnen gebruiken, centraal aan te sturen en goed aan te laten sluiten op de energievraag en het energieverbruik in een grotere panden. Naast een goede zonering in het pand, is het interessant om een monitoringsysteem aan te leggen. Dit biedt beter inzicht in het energiegebruik en stimuleert de gebruiker om bewuster energie te gebruiken.

• Central management of different installations
• Insight into energy demand and consumption per room and installation
• Link to sensors for smarter use of the building

A smart thermostat can help you to heat your building in a more energy-efficient way. Depending on the type of thermostat, the smart thermostat automatically adapts to your living rhythm and wishes. Choose a thermostat that suits you best. This way, you can control the heating remotely or the thermostat is self-learning. Some thermostats can even show you the energy consumption, just like an energy consumption manager. Or they read the meter readings of the smart meter automatically. This way, a smart thermostat helps you heat more efficiently.

• Insight into energy demand and consumption per room and installation
• Saves energy through efficient heating
• Can be read and controlled remotely
• In the case of very well insulated buildings and economical heating behaviour, this measure will save little energy
• Choose a thermostat that suits you, so a self-learning thermostat is unsuitable if you have a very irregular living rhythm