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Who provides support to consumers wishing to buy a heat pump?
Colder temperatures mean that the need for heating increases – and heat pumps offer a particularly climate-friendly way to heat. They use ambient heat, and often generate three to four kilowatt-hours of heat from one kilowatt-hour of electricity. The greener the electricity, the more climate-friendly the heating method. If heat pumps are powered by the house’s own photovoltaics, then heat generation can even be CO₂-neutral. Heat pumps are now standard in new buildings, but can also be used efficiently in existing buildings – which is great both for the environment and for the wallet.
The nationwide consumer advice centres offer the largest independent energy advice service in Germany, answering questions about functionality, funding, and model selection. A new feature is also a free product comparison: this project was successfully tested in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2024, and has now been rolled out nationwide and to help people select the right product for their needs.
The consumer advice centre offers a free of charge comparison of heat pumps
This is how it works: First, select your region (Land) on the website (in German only) and fill out a participation form. You can then upload up to three offers and have them analysed by energy consultants. After the documents have been evaluated, you can schedule a consultation for detailed explanations and answers to all questions (by phone or video). At the end of the process, consumers receive two PDF documents: an annotated overview of products and a technical comparison table.
The goal of the consultation is to find a suitable and efficient heat pump for each building. Further information on comparing heat pumps can be found here (in German only).
More services and tips for energy-efficiency at home
The free heat pump check is just one of many services offered by consumer advice centres for energy-efficiency at home. Nearly 1,000 energy consultants nationwide support households on topics such as energy efficiency and renewable energies. In 2023, almost 270,000 people seeking advice took advantage of the service at 900 advice centres, by phone, online, or at home.
The advice is easy-to-understand and largely free; the only charge is €40 towards on-site appointments, and this fee is waived for low-income households. The services range from energy saving tips to checks for heating technology, photovoltaics, and renovations. 95% of those advised are satisfied, and around 80% implement the measures suggested. According to the German Consumer Centre Association, the savings achieved in 2023 corresponded to the annual consumption of all private households in Stuttgart.