I'm not seeing a financial incentive to change our heating system to something more energy efficient. Thermal or heat pumps would lower our utility bills, but it would take over a decade to recoup the investment. Better insulation seems to be the only worthwhile improvement to make.

What are good reasons to change our heating system?

If the Global Warming crowd would foot the bill, I would certainly accept a new heating system, so long as the money was not fanagled from somewhere else. But for now, I just don't see an incentive to replace the currently working system. Anyone else come to a different conclusion?

Depends on the type of your current heating system.

It is electric, and the bills are kinda high. I'd love to pay less with a heat pump or geothermal, but the cost of a new system doesn't really justify it.

I suppose if I were burning oil or gas, I suppose the air pollution is a good reason to switch.

Depending on where you live, check commune and canton, there are indeed financial incentives/rebates, even perhaps favorable loans, etc. for going greener. Check the fine print carefully to see if you qualify. Most reputable companies providing green alternatives generally are well up to date on the financial incentives as well. Canton VD had this last year and while not huge, it could make you think again.

Based on information I have received, the cantonal and communal incentives are practically nil. Furthermore, today's technology may be outdated and worthless by the time the investment amortizes. At the moment, going green appears to be more of an altruistic or fadish endeavor, and I'm feeling it is a waste of time and effort.

Can anyone rebut otherwise?

electricity is not produced by witchcraft.
the difference is only, that the pollution created is not near you

(same with bio-fuel for cars, which is "paid" with huge areas of monocultures. or the problem with batteries in e-cars.)

Just turn the heating down by a couple of degrees.

To add more *ahem* fuel to the fire, you should also factor in the "greeness" of taking out an existing system, disposing of it, installing a new system and its production.

For me the biggest issue is the lack of future-proofing of heating systems.

A newly built house, however, is another thing IMO.

Agree that insulation and good windows are the way forward in the short term.

If it was an oil based heating system I would replace it if financially feasible, simply to be less dependent on oil prices.

AGW is no issue for me as I don't believe in the "science" behind it anymore, but being less dependent on imported oil is always a good thing IMHO.

Since the OP's system is electricity based I would probably wait and see what happens. Electricity prices will probably be rising over the coming years but it will probably be gradually without any price shocks which remain a possibility as far as oil is concerned.

On the other hand (and I'm admittedly off on a tangent here) quite a few people believe that the troubles of the financial system are far from over and that it makes much more sense to invest in something tangible now (such as a heating system with low operating costs) than having lots of paper values sitting around...

Better insulation is not the 'only worthwhile' improvement to make. It is the first prerequisite: insulate the volume you live in. When there is no living space in the basement, insulate the basement ceiling. When there is no living space in the attic, insulate on the last floor. It can be done at a relatively low cost.

Changing your heating system is an investment in your house. An investment is generally done at the end of a 'life' cycle. You'll have to invest at some point, but financial incentives may tempt you to do it earlier. But it is not for the authorities nor for the Global warming crowd to pay the bill.

Energy, be it fuel, coal, gas or electricity, will not become cheaper in the future and more environmental measures will be implemented.

For me the guidelines are:
- if you live in an urban area equipped with city gas, it will bring you comfort, low cost and it is environmentally good and without supply problems.
- fuel/caol is for when there is no gas available.
- electricity: the only sensible use of electricity in heating is with heat pumps.
- wood; cheap, but needs a large place for storage, and a careful selection of species. You can also install one of this metal stoves for mid season.
- solar; free and inexhaustable energy, zero pollution, specific aid programs,

If one were to classify the type of heating on a ecological scale, wood stoves or boilers with solar power would be well ahead because they are renewable. Wood is also very cheap and creator of many local jobs.
Then you would have natural gas boiler. Gas is the fossil fuel producing the least CO2 when burned.
Oil and coal are to be avoided as highly polluting.
Electric heating is to ban both ecologically and economically.
For hot water, the best solution is the solar water heater, coupled with gas, or if not otherways possible with electric heating.

But we are all alike; when we don't feel an incentive to do something, it is simply because the bill we pay doesn't really hurt.

thats if you can find anyone here willing to sell you a solar system, emailed 3 companies so far and not one has bothered to reply

Have you tried these people: http://www.schweizer-metallbau.ch/de/home.html They do a lot of solar system installations on houses.

yep, no reply

I used them for something else & had great service so I was hoping you had not found them yet. Have you tried calling or using one of their contact me forms on the website?

It was there contract me form I used will give them a call when we're a bit more settled, cheers

What did you mean by this?

Land (Real Estate), Gold and water supplies! God-made things don't lose their value.

Hi,
Has anyone actually accessed any grants or support in Switzerland to improve the insulation of their homes?
Thanks
Chester