Viessmann Climate Solutions and Medien-Energie-Technik GmbH (MET), a subsidiary of the Nassauische Heimstätte | Wohnstadt (NHW) group, have signed a cooperation agreement to expand the use of heat pumps in rental housing in Hesse, Germany. The partnership aims to gradually replace existing heating systems in rental buildings, most of them fossil fuel-powered, with renewable systems or make sensible substitutions.
At the center of the agreement is a binding efficiency guarantee based on the annual performance factor (APF) of installed heat pump systems. According to the companies, this metric, which compares the amount of heat provided with the electrical energy used, is key to the economic assessment of systems during operation. Viessmann Climate Solutions and MET said they will plan, design and operate systems to achieve a defined minimum efficiency.
The cooperation focuses on existing buildings, where the partners want to integrate heat pump systems in a way that enables economical and reliable operation without comprehensive, cost-intensive full modernization. Practical experience from real-life projects will be incorporated into planning and operation.
NHW said it has around 61,000 rental apartments at 112 locations in Hesse. Its subsidiary MET specializes in media infrastructure, energy supply and metering services. Viessmann Climate Solutions is part of Carrier Global Corporation.
“The energy transition in existing buildings is not determined solely by the technology installed, but also by actual operational efficiency,” said Thomas Alt, Head of Commercial Business at Viessmann Climate Solutions. “With the efficiency guarantee, we and MET are taking responsibility for the entire life cycle of the systems – from planning to ongoing operation. This is an important step toward making heat pumps a viable and economical option for commercial buildings as well.”
