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Replacing an oil or gas heating system saves heating costs and protects the environment. The type of replacement for a fossil fuel heating system depends on various factors. Both structural requirements and cost factors must be taken into account. Whether you’re replacing an oil or a gas heating system, you’ll find everything you need to know in the article.

Reasons for replacing an oil or gas heating system

There are various reasons for replacing an oil or gas heating system with a climate-friendly option. Here is an overview of the most important ones:

  • Rising energy prices: Energy prices have risen steadily in recent years. And they are likely to be even higher in the future. By reducing your dependence on fossil fuels you will benefit in the long run.
  • Subsidies: Those who opt for a sustainable system can count on both state and private subsidies. This means that installed systems pay for themselves more quickly.
  • Lower heating costs: Despite the high initial costs, renewable energy is cheaper than that obtained from fossil fuels and is generally less susceptible to price fluctuations.
  • Appreciation: Climate-friendly heating systems can increase the value of a property – depending on its condition – and can also be a selling point.
  • Environment: Sustainable heating systems release fewer greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and thus help protect the environment.
  • Fewer regulations: Oil and gas heating systems are already a thing of the past. Many cantons have implemented numerous regulations in this regard. Those opting for a climate-friendly heating system today will not need to fear new laws.
  • Resources: Sun, air, water, geothermal energy – climate-friendly heating systems obtain the energy required for heating from (almost) infinite sources.

What are the alternatives to oil and gas heating systems?

Modern heating systems based on renewable energy sources are a sensible alternative to oil and gas heating systems. The following options are available:

Alternatives to oil and gas heating systems

  • Wood-fired heating: Heating with wood is not only traditional, but also protects the environment. The main reason for this is that wood is a renewable resource and binds carbon from the environment when it is formed. Wood-fired heaters are also called biomass heaters. They are particularly suitable for large rooms that require a lot of heating. There are different types of wood-fired heaters, including, for example, split-log boilers and wood-chip boilers.
  • Pellet heating systems: A pellet heating system is no different to a wood heating system except that pellets rather than logs are used.
  • Heat pumps: Heat pumps are also suitable for heating in place of oil or gas heating. They use the heat energy from the environment to heat your home. This heat energy comes from the earth, groundwater or even the air. Thanks to a reversing mechanism, heat pumps can also be used for cooling. In energy terms, the use of a heat pump is even more sustainable in combination with a photovoltaic system.
  • Solar thermal energy: Unlike a photovoltaic system, a solar thermal system generates thermal energy rather than electricity. It uses the sun’s rays to heat water or a heat transfer fluid. This process is carried out in special solar collectors that are installed on the roof of a building or in open space. The heat generated can be used in a variety of ways, for example, to heat water in households or to support space heating.
  • District heating systems: Depending on the municipality, the property can also be connected to the district heating network. District heating uses waste heat from industrial processes or power plants that would otherwise be unused. This heat is transported directly to the building via insulated piping systems, where it is used for space heating and water heating.

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What costs can you expect when replacing your heating system?

When replacing a heating system various costs are incurred. These depend on a variety of factors, including the type of heating system, the amount of conversion work required and the choice of energy source.

Costs of oil or gas heating systems

Based on current prices, it costs up to CHF 20,000 to replace an existing oil-fired system with a new one in a single-family home. However, you’ll need deeper pockets if you want to switch to a renewable heating system. For an average single-family home the costs of switching to a heat pump start at around CHF 30,000, rising to around CHF 60,000 if you opt for a geothermal heat pump. The reason for the high costs is, among other things, time-consuming work such as boreholes for the geothermal probe, or the cost of obtaining the permits required for drilling. Access to heat sources is an important cost factor for heat pumps.

It’s clear that it is not always easy to estimate costs. These depend on the individual situation and on the suitability of the terrain.

When does the replacement of a heating system pay for itself?

Investing in a new heating system is financially worthwhile if the higher installation costs can be amortized by the lower operating costs during the expected service life. The operating costs of heat pumps are much lower than those of oil or gas heating systems. If the house is well insulated and the system is optimally adjusted, electricity and operation cost at most a few hundred francs per year. Heat pumps with geothermal probes (or air-to-water heat pumps) also require minimal service and maintenance.

UBS economists are in no doubt: In almost all cases, replacing an older oil heating system pays for itself within 10 to 15 years. Financially speaking, a conversion is especially worthwhile if the existing oil heating system has already reached the end of its service life, and the building costs a lot to heat due to poor insulation. If there is a carbon tax hike on fossil fuels in the medium term, the conversion will have paid for itself in less than ten years. If the homeowner received a subsidy of CHF 10,000, the payback period would be even shorter. In the best-case scenario, if the existing heating system has already been written off, the estimated payback period would only be five years.

Gas heating systems are generally quite easy to install and use. In residential buildings with good thermal insulation, gas heating is relatively inexpensive to run. “From a cost perspective, this makes a heat pump harder to justify,” the UBS economists point out. The decision would be easier if the old system had to be replaced anyway and the building was poorly insulated. Here too, return on investment will be much faster if state subsidies are available.

Are there subsidies or financial aid for switching to environmentally friendly heating systems?

Subsidies are available for those wishing to install a heating system that uses renewable energy. There are various options here. One important federal and cantonal program is the building program. The cantons supplement the subsidies from the program with their own budgets. You can find other programs available to you where you live at energiefranken.ch (German, French and Italian only). It is important to apply for subsidies before you start any construction work.

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  • Attractive interest rates for replacing your fossil heating, install solar collectors or a photovoltaic system.
  • Preferential interest rate throughout the entire term
  • No processing fee for the preparation of the contract

Are there any legal requirements in Switzerland for replacing an old heating system?

In Switzerland, there is currently no obligation to replace a fossil heating system. However, property owners often have to comply with the cantons’ current model regulations in the energy sector (MuKEn). This is a federal guideline aimed at harmonizing the energy regulations of the cantons. Whether and how exactly the cantons implement these is up to them. In the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Glarus and Neuchâtel, for example, the use of fossil heating systems when renovating is prohibited.

Major differences between new and old buildings

Currently, around 60 percent of single-family homes and 70 percent of apartment buildings in Switzerland are still heated with fossil fuels and there are many reasons for this. In new buildings, these new systems can be integrated more easily and more cost-effectively. In the case of old buildings, on the other hand, the structural conditions are often more difficult and thus the possibilities are limited. Or there is a lack of long-term planning and capital. Some owners are put off by the fact that a change of energy source is associated with a considerable initial investment and wonder whether a sustainable renovation makes financial sense?

What does investment profitability depend upon?

Whether investing in the replacement of a fossil fuel heating system is worthwhile or not depends on various factors, including:

  • The remaining service life of the existing heating system
  • CO2 taxes, which are coupled directly to CO2 emissions
  • Quality of the building envelope, thermal insulation, windows, etc.
  • Tax benefits and subsidies (which vary, according to the canton)
  • Current energy prices

How long does it take to replace your old heating system?

The time taken to replace an old heating system will vary depending on the type of replacement or the existing structural conditions. For example, replacing an oil heating system with a heat pump usually takes a few weeks. The same applies when switching to a solar-powered heating system. However, in most cases, replacement involves more than just the actual installation work. Various preparatory work and permits also take time and can take several months from the initial considerations to commissioning.

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Financial benefit

Investments in heating with renewable energy are fully tax-deductible in all cantons. If you do not have the liquidity for a sustainable renovation, you should consider increasing your mortgage. This also makes economic sense because in most cases the savings achieved in terms of property running costs will be higher than the additional costs for mortgage interest.

There are currently a lot of changes taking place around the topics of energy, real estate and investments. There is already a tendency for energy efficiency and the heating system to influence the resalability of real estate. Buildings that have already been retrofitted and comply with energy regulations will perform better in terms of market value than unrenovated properties. There is also a discussion about whether the energy balance could affect the risk assessment and the conditions in the mortgage sector in a few years’ time.

Special case: second apartment

The energy-efficient renovation of a second home is rarely profitable. With an average usage of 11 weeks a year, the savings in ancillary costs are too small to recoup the fixed costs for better insulation and a new heating system. Ultimately, the regulator will also require second homes to be renovated, whether this makes financial sense or not.

Conclusion

Fossil fuel heating systems generate unnecessarily high operating costs. Well-insulated homes that heat with gas are relatively energy-efficient. However, subsidies and tax benefits mean that in many cases the installation of a heat pump can still be beneficial. If you install or modernize systems that run on fossil fuels, there is a risk that you won’t be able to use them for their full service life.

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