Modern technology in ancient walls

Photo: Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung

Many people still think old buildings are not suitable for heat pumps. Germany’s Herrenchiemsee castle disproves this. Built in 1886, it is a listed building situated on an island near Munich, surrounded by a protected natural area. While the state rooms of the south wing were already open to visitors, the rooms of the north wing were recently opened up to host exhibitions and events thanks to a new heating system. 

Two brine-to-water heat pumps provide heating and cooling. Geothermal energy is tapped through 18 probes, each 200 metres deep.  

The island is unusual for having no groundwater. So this approach allowed efficient heat distribution through component activation (wet system on the first floor, dry system on the upper floor) with full air conditioning. The seasonal intermittent operation of heating and cooling increases the ecological and technical efficiency of the probe field and requires a smaller dimension than originally anticipated.

More information here

Have you got a heat pump story to share? Let us know! sarah.azau@ehpa.org

Related articles

Industrial companies have long been intrigued by the potential of heat pumps. Yet they often fear that heat pu...
These days we use our phones for everything. Communicating, banking, taking photos, booking tickets, doing the...
In the heart of Sint-Truiden in eastern Belgium stands a remarkable apartment building called Griso, comprisin...
Hidden beneath the streets of Budapest lie two ‘heat centre’ rooms which provide heating and cooling for much ...