A Comparison of Future Heating Options
There is no single type of heating system that is ideal for all buildings in Wiesbaden. A technology comparison and a free energy consultation from the Wiesbaden Climate Protection Agency can serve as a starting point.
Comparison of the Main Types of Heating Systems
The most important types of heating systems for the heating transition in Wiesbaden are heat pumps and district heating. These are supplemented by wood pellet heating systems and newly installed gas heating systems, which must use an increasing share of renewable gases.
A comprehensive study by the Kopernikus Project Ariadne examined trends in investment costs, maintenance costs, energy consumption, and CO₂ emissions. Based on these findings, the study then calculated the costs incurred over a 20-year operating period for a sample building. The results shown here are a summary of this study.
A Quick Look at the Cost Comparison
While heat pumps involve relatively high upfront costs, their maintenance and energy consumption costs are comparatively low. With district heating and gas heating, the situation is reversed: low upfront costs but high operating costs.
The study reported high initial costs for wood pellet heating systems, though these have since decreased somewhat due to changes in subsidies. Because of the high maintenance costs, wood pellet heating systems remain more expensive overall than heat pumps or district heating.