Oil and gas too expensive: This map of Germany shows whether you can use a heat pump
Compared to oil and gas heating, heat pumps are a more environmentally friendly option and can now also save money. You use a card to check whether your house can also be equipped with a heat pump.
Many want to get away from oil and gas heating, because they are not only bad for the climate, but also really expensive due to rising energy prices. Anyone planning a new house is looking for alternatives and heat pumps are a very popular option – they can often be retrofitted to existing homes.
According to the Research Center for Energy Economics e. V., around 75 percent of residential buildings in Germany are suitable for at least one type of heat pump. The research center provides an interactive map of Germany for an initial assessment.
The so-called heat pump traffic light is intended as a guide and indicates the basic suitability for heat pumps in your building.
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First assessment by zip code
Operation is extremely simple. Open the web app in the browser and type in your zip code. An interactive map is then displayed, similar to Google Maps. Zoom to your house. Buildings are provided with house numbers for better orientation.
Buildings are marked in traffic light colors:
-
Green:
The house is probably suitable for at least one heat pump technology. -
Yellow:
The house may be suitable for at least one heat pump technology. -
Red:
The house is rather unsuitable for all heat pump technologies.
As you can see, the statements should only serve as a guide. The makers write, “The heat pump traffic light offers owners of residential buildings the opportunity to deal with the local conditions before contacting a specialist company. The results are based on models and can under no circumstances replace specialist advice.”
Also, the map is not quite complete. However, 17 million of the approximately 19 million residential buildings in Germany are said to have been recorded.
Where does the data come from
First, with the help of extensive models, the availability of the heat sources air, earth and sun as well as the heat requirement is determined using nationwide freely available geo and statistical data for each property. To evaluate suitability, the distance to neighboring buildings, the area of the property and the roof area, among other things, are then taken into account.
The available heat sources are compared with the building’s requirements. If the supply is greater than the demand, then the source is suitable for supplying heat to the building.
Despite the complex methodology, the representation on the map is not perfect. It is therefore possible that a heat pump is not possible despite the green traffic light, or that a heat pump is already being used and the house is still marked in red.
The providers make no secret of this and definitely recommend professional advice, taking into account the exact local conditions.
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