Heating buildings consumes about a quarter of all the energy used in Finland. District heating is by far the most common form of heating. Combined heat and power generation is an efficient way to produce energy, but the amount of greenhouse gas emissions depends on the fuels used.
There are many different options for heating your home. There are also many factors that influence the choice of heating system. In addition to the price and the ecology of the energy source, the choice is influenced by the size of the building, the energy needs, the ease of heating and the investment and running costs.
District heating
District heating is the most common form of heating in Finland. District heating is popular in city centre apartment blocks and other densely populated areas. District heating is an affordable form of heating, but it is dependent on the price of the heat supplier. Most district heating comes from fossil fuels, so it is not a very ecological form of heating.
Geothermal heat
Geothermal heating is currently the most sought-after form of heating. Geothermal heat is thermal energy bound in the soil or water, making it a completely free and renewable energy source. Geothermal systems are expensive to install, but they pay for themselves in reduced electricity bills. Geothermal heating is the most ecological form of heating. Geothermal houses are in great demand in the market for private homes, as the expensive system is installed and new residents can enjoy low heating bills.
Direct electric heat
Direct electric heating is certainly the easiest option for heating systems. It is also inexpensive to install, which is why it is a fairly common form of heating. The disadvantage of direct electric heating is its high running costs, as it is the most expensive form of heating in the long term. Especially in winter, direct electric heating is reflected in high electricity bills.
Oil heating
Older houses may still have oil heating. In new houses, oil heating is hardly ever installed anymore. District heating and oil heating have the same level of CO2 emissions. Most oil-fired boilers use another form of heating, such as wood, in addition to oil.
Energy consumption and use should be monitored. This is the only way to influence consumption and save costs.
You can compare the costs of different heating options: http://lammitysvertailu.eneuvonta.fi
