Heating the House in Brittany

 

It is no good having a palatial mansion in France if you cannot afford to heat it, so think carefully about the cost of any existing heating services and make sure it is a priority during the planning of any renovations. What is the point of a large house with lots of entertaining space if you end up having to keep warm gathered around a fire in one room.

 

Insulation

 

Insulation is obviously a key element in the efficiency of any heating plan; however it is sometimes difficult to achieve a balance between maintaining the aesthetics of an ancient house and insulating to a good standard. In ancient granite houses the wall is anything up to 600mm thick. Most builders will install a 50mm tile block wall on the interior to create an air gap and allow for the insertion of insulating material. Occasionally this can be achieved using a galvanised stud partition and plasterboard but only when the external wall is free of damp or water penetration.

 

Similarly roofs are a major source of heat loss in ancient French houses and insulating is very important particularly when constructing additional rooms in roof spaces. A number of building suppliers provide fact sheets giving clear advice on the correct materials to be employed in each location to achieve the required standards. Suppliers have a detailed catalogue which includes diagrams and instructions on installation, but most will be only too pleased to give free advice. From 1 November 2006 a diagnostic ‘de performance énergétique’ (DPE) has to be carried out on the property at the time of sale and presented to the Notaries prior to the signing of the preliminary purchase contract. Whist there is no obligation to carry out remedial works to improve the standard of energy efficiency it could be used to negotiate a reduction on the sale price, therefore correct insulation works during renovation can avoid future problems as well as reduce your annual fuel bills.

 

Methods of Heating in Common Use

 

Electricity is still in common use for home heating in France and individual panel radiators and the French version of storage radiators can be found in many homes. The cost of electricity at the time of writing is still relatively cheap compared to the UK but can be expensive if it is used to heat a substantial property. Oil filled towel rails are also very popular as they avoid the use of central heating to dry towels in the warmer months. As in the UK electricity tariffs are reduced for eight hours during the night.

 

Oil is the most common fuel for rural central heating systems and modern condensing boilers greatly improve their fuel consumption. There are a number of fuel suppliers who compete for delivery services keeping the price competitive. Despite this fuel can be the subject of substantial fluctuations as shown by the price in 2008 which at one stage was 1300 euros per 1000 litres, compared to the normal 600-650 euros per litre.

 

 

Gas (LPG) is also used for central heating systems in France with tanks either surface mounted or below ground. The cost of bulk gas has spiralled in the last two years making this one of the most expensive fuels.

 

Solid fuel is available in the form of coal, wood logs and granules, although coal is less popular than in other European countries. The availability of logs makes timber a popular choice for those in rural locations. A lot of farmers supplement their income during the winter months supplying logs to the community at a price ranging from 140 to 180 euros a cord. The logs are used on open and enclosed fires in addition to central heating boilers. In the last few years wood granule central heating boilers have begun to enter the market utilising timber waste in the form of granules and are proving quite popular in France.

 

Paraffin is readily available in supermarkets and DIY shops in France and is still popular with those on a reduced income. The risk of accidental spillage and fire makes this type of heating fuel unsuitable for use in homes with small children or by the elderly.

 

Geothermic heating is viable option in Brittany and increasingly popular for renovated and new houses. The initial cost of installation is high but savings as high as two thirds on heating cost are claimed by suppliers.  For heating, it involves pumping cool water (often containing an anti-freeze) through pipes in the ground. As the water circulates underground it absorbs heat from the ground and, on its return, the now warmer water passes through a heat exchanger which uses electricity to extract the heat from the water. In France two methods are used, one involves drilling down vertically to obtain the heat source and the other laying the pipe work horizontally under the garden. The majority of the cost of installation is as a result of the external works.

 

Heat pumps or ‘les pompe à chaleurs ‘as they are called in France are popular heating systems for new homes. Air source heat pumps are relatively easy and inexpensive to install and have therefore historically been the most widely used heat pump type. However, they suffer limitations due to their use of the outside air as a heat source, efficiency dropping once the outside temperature falls below freezing. At low temperatures the systems fall back on electricity to supplement the house temperature. These are considered an economic method of central heating and substantial savings can be made on fuel costs.

 

Choosing a System

 

It is impossible to say that one system of heating is better than another as it is highly dependant on a number of factors;

 Construction of the house i.e. ancient, modern, traditional etc

             Size and layout of the house

             Location, exposure, available surface area (geothermal potential)

             Existing, new build or renovation

In the case of a new build or renovation the potential for installing an ecologically friendly system is increased e.g. this scenario would allow for the installation of under floor heating and geothermal heating with the minimal of upheaval.

 

Cost will clearly play an important role in the choice of system and in this respect the French government does allow substantial tax relief in respect of ‘l’équipement de production d’énergie utilisant une source d’énergie renouvelable’ ‘tax guidance note 2041GR. Only persons installing equipment in their principal residence can qualify for relief.

 

Tony