In Vaud, 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 comparison in Vaud: renovation in stages Imagine a home with a usable roof, while heating and insulation will be renovated at different times. This is a possible case, without assuming all Vaud buildings follow that schedule. Request two assessments: one for current demand and another for consumption expected after renovation.
Improving the building envelope can change heat demand. Have the designer explain the future electricity profile and its assumptions. Do not add insulation and control savings that are already included in the same estimate.
If equipment will be installed later, require a written list of components planned for the expansion. “Expandable” establishes neither future price, necessary work nor availability of a compatible model. Also price a solution that will remain without an expansion.
Organise grant applications around each project’s actual schedule. Compare a single contract with separate interventions, considering roof access, responsibilities and commissioning. The best sequence depends on the home’s condition and the offers received.