Anyone living in an energy-autonomous house obtains their entire energy requirements for electricity, hot water and heating in an environmentally friendly way via solar thermal and photovoltaic systems and can be completely self-sufficient with zero emissions. According to the EU Building Directive, all new buildings in Germany are to be built as "near-zero energy houses" from 2021, and by 2050 even the entire building stock is to be as good as climate-neutral.
The further development of a "zero-energy house" is a so-called "plus-energy house". It is characterized not only by the fact that the energy for its own needs is obtained entirely from solar power and solar energy, but also that green energy is produced in surplus. The surplus energy is stored and can be used to charge the electric car or to supply the house even on days with a higher energy demand.
Even though the demand for energy self-sufficient houses is increasing and more and more houses are being built, an energy self-sufficient house is currently still quite expensive. Likewise, a suitable plot of land is needed for construction, which must meet certain requirements. Accordingly, the plot should be free of shade and have a southern exposure. For the installation of solar collectors and photovoltaic modules, a roof pitch of 45 degrees is prescribed. An energy expert first conducts a feasibility study. Financial support can be applied for from the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BafA) as well as from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau and through regional funding opportunities.
Source: Efficiency House Online
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