Carbon Surface Heating vs. Heat Pump – Economic Efficiency
Comparison of power consumption, investment costs, funding logic, and PV self-consumption – with a real reference case.
Recommended if you already know the living space, building standard, and PV data (if applicable).
1) Reference Case
Object: Detached house, very good efficiency standard, 82 m² living space.
Usage: all rooms constantly 22 °C (24/7).
Hot water: external (instantaneous water heater), not included.
PV: 10 kWp installed.
2) Comparison: Consumption, Costs, Funding, PV
| Criterion | Carbon Surface Heating | Heat Pump |
|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption Space Heating | 1,615 kWh/year (measured) | ≈ 300–700 kWh/year (practical range) |
| Investment Costs | ≈ €8,000 | ≈ €30,000 (incl. underfloor heating/control/installation) |
| Additional Investment HP | – | ≈ €22,000 |
| Funding Logic | Eligibility for funding possibly via building standard (overall concept) | often directly eligible as an individual measure (depending on the program) |
| PV Self-Consumption | tends to be higher | tends to be lower |
| Maintenance & Complexity | very low | higher |
Would you like to know what this means for your building? We create an individual economic efficiency analysis based on your key data.
Request Economic Efficiency AnalysisNote: This page is a building-specific example and does not replace individual planning or a binding funding review.
3) Amortization
Definition: Amortization period = Additional investment heat pump ÷ annual electricity cost savings (space heating only).
| Scenario | Savings (kWh/year) | Savings (€/year) | Amortization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without PV effect (kWh difference only) | ≈ 1,015 | ≈ €355 | ≈ 62 years |
| With PV effect (typical grid electricity consumption) | ≈ 410 | ≈ €144 | ≈ 153 years |
The PV effect varies depending on the control strategy, load profile, and storage (if applicable).
4) Decision Support
- Focus on paid kWh: The decisive factor is the actual electricity consumption billed.
- Investment vs. Savings: In very efficient buildings, the absolute electricity savings are limited – the investment dominates.
- PV Usage: Direct electricity can make good use of PV self-consumption.
- Funding Logic: Eligibility for funding often results from the building standard (overall concept).
- Complexity: Lower complexity can reduce maintenance and risks.
5) FAQ
Is carbon surface heating eligible for funding?
Under certain conditions: yes. Eligibility for funding often results from the building standard achieved (overall concept) – not necessarily from an individual measure "heating". The respectively valid funding conditions and evidence in individual cases are decisive.
Why do you consider kWh/year and not just efficiency indicators?
Customers pay for the kWh that arrive at the meter. Especially with very low heating loads, the absolute amount of energy is small – then the overall calculation of investment and operation is decisive.
Does the result apply to every building?
No. This is a building-specific example. With a higher heating load, different area, different usage profile, or without PV, the result may differ. Individual planning is recommended.
Would you like your own numbers? Send us a brief description of the living space, building standard, and PV status – we will create an individual assessment.
Request Individual Calculation