In Bern, compare heating, solar generation and storage using your building’s data. Savings depend on consumption, equipment and the tariff for your address; a battery is not automatically necessary.
Start with the building and its energy use Request an assessment of heating demand, insulation, emitters and operating temperatures. Heat-pump consumption cannot be inferred from a fixed share of every household’s bill. Compare settings, renovation and replacement using seasonal performance and full cost.
Align generation and consumption Compatible scheduling can shift some hot-water preparation or heating towards solar hours. Check controls, comfort, efficiency and warranty. A heating buffer and a domestic hot-water tank serve different purposes. Increasing self-consumption is not useful if it creates unnecessary consumption.
Assess winter separately Request monthly and hourly profiles: solar generation and heating demand do not coincide throughout the year. High winter self-consumption does not mean panels cover all heating. Include necessary grid purchases, periods without sunshine and actual tariffs in the calculation.
Assess the battery and backup Physical storage is limited by power, usable capacity and state of charge. Compare a version without a battery for the same home and uses. A commercial “virtual storage” credit supplies neither heat nor power during an outage. Separately confirm backed-up circuits, heat-pump starting requirements and switching time.
Have professionals configure controls Weather forecasts and control functions depend on models and interfaces. Ask which functions are supplied and tested. Do not prescribe overheating or deep discharge from a general rule: limits must suit the building, occupants, manufacturer and backup reserve.
Prepare the budget and grant applications Separate photovoltaic equipment, heating, storage and additional work in the quote. Confirm grants and application timing before deducting support. Compare costs, maintenance, finance and replacement under several tariff and consumption assumptions.
A project to examine in Bern: a property with several uses In this working example, one building contains a home and a business. It assumes neither a tariff common to the canton nor an already authorised installation. List contracts, meters and account holders before requesting an offer.
Distinguish each part’s operating hours and requirements. A daytime business can change the overall profile, but its electricity must not be arbitrarily assigned to the home in the calculation. Request a simulation retaining contractual boundaries and cost allocation.
Also consider the business closing or changing occupant. Who retains equipment and access rights? How will subscriptions, maintenance and surplus be handled? Resolve these questions before relying on future income to finance the project.
To compare providers, choose a dossier version understood by everyone who will sign. Specify responsibilities, applicable requirements and documents to be supplied. The document’s language cannot replace a clear definition of work, warranties and each party’s commitments.