Lämmitys -

Heating

Heating accounts for up to two-thirds of household energy consumption in Finland. It is the largest share of energy consumption in homes. In electrically heated houses, most of the electricity goes to heating spaces and water. In households, water heating is the second largest consumer of energy after home heating. Water heaters make up about 15 percent of total energy use.

Heating and hot water are essential for health, comfort, and well-being. Therefore, improving energy efficiency in heating must be done without sacrificing comfort. With proper settings and technologies, significant energy efficiency improvements and savings in costs can be achieved.

Direct electric heating

Consists of electric radiators or underfloor resistance heating.

Cheapest to install, but most expensive to operate.

Small electric heaters can also be used as a supplementary or backup heating source in addition to a fireplace.

Energy use in detached houses: approx. 8,000–12,000 kWh per year. Varies significantly.

Water circulation heating

Consists of water circulating through radiators or underfloor heating.

Hot water acts as a storage medium, so heating can be scheduled to cheaper hours.

Hot water acts as a storage medium due to the volume of circulating water, so heating can be scheduled to cheaper hours.

The water can be heated by oil, electricity, pellets, geothermal, or district heat.

Hot water tank

Ensures that the supply of hot water is continuous and sufficient.

Hot water tanks can have either an electric resistance that converts electrical energy into heat or a heat exchanger that is connected to a heating system.

Cold water is fed into a tank where it is heated. Once the water reaches the set temperature, a thermostat maintains it to keep the temperature constant.

Smart thermostat

Smart thermostats use sensors, weather forecasts, and automation to optimize heating and cooling and reduce energy use. They shift heating to cheaper hours.

Useat järjestelmät oppivat käyttäjän mieltymykset ja säätävät lämpötilaa automaattisesti.

Smart thermostats cost about 100–300 euros.

Can reduce heating and cooling costs by 10–20 percent, saving 50–150 euros per year.

There are several different types of smart thermostats on the market, and their features vary. Certain types also require a network connection to function.

Efficiency measures

To know more about how to improve the energy efficiency of your house, visit Motiva’s page about renovating and maintaining.

Timer switch	– A simple solution for electrically heated homes — install a timer between the water heater and the electricity meter to use cheaper night electricity. – Can also control heat-retaining floor heating.
Smart heating control	– Optimize heating automatically based on electricity market prices and desired settings using smart thermostats and temperature sensors. – Ideal for remote control, monitoring, and maintenance — great for vacation homes. – A smart heating control system costs around 2,000 euros, including installation. – Payback time: 5–10 years.
Replacing an oil boiler	– Replacing an oil boiler or water heater with a ground source or air-to-water heat pump. – Efficiency of heat pump: 3–5 kwh heat per 1 kWh of electricity. – Investment cost: approx. 20,000 euros for a ground-source heat pump. – Payback time: 5–8 years.
Scheduling and small adjustments	–Schedule heating for nighttime to benefit from cheaper electricity. Need to be coupled with a dynamic pricing contract. – Lowering the temperature by one degree saves ~5 percent on heating costs. – Reduce ventilation when not at home.
Investing in an air heat pump	– Good option to replace or complement direct electrical heating – One unit can heat 30–100 square meters of living space. – The efficiency of an air heat pump is 3–5 kWh of heat per 1 kWh of electricity. Efficiency drops in cold weather. – Cost and installation: approximately. 2,000 euros. –Payback time: 1–2 years.
Energy-efficient use of a hot water tank	– The temperature of a hot water tank should always be on an energy-efficient level: 58-60 Celsius. Higher settings should be avoided to reduce unnecessary energy use. – The water tank and water pipes should be insulated to minimize heat loss – Schedule the heater to warm water during off-peak or nighttime hours, coupled with dynamic electricity pricing.