Credit cards – types and uses

The classic credit card got its name from the fact that it granted the customer a loan. Thus, the classic lending of money is only possible with a real credit card. Since a loan always carries risks, you should bear in mind before applying for a classic credit card account that the bank can cancel the account at any time. It is a framework credit, which does not have any notice periods. The will usually make use of this if the customer’s credit rating deteriorates.

The credit is granted as a credit line on the card account. You decide yourself whether you settle the outstanding amount at the billing date in one sum or in monthly instalments. The bank often requires a minimum amount, which is ten or 20 percent of the credit amount used. Alternatively, a minimum payment of ten or 20 euros may be required.

There are so-called black credit cards, which do not have a credit limit. However, these are only issued to customers with a very high income or a very high solvency.

You can increase or reduce the credit limit. Both are possible upon application. You can dispose freely within this limit. This is the advantage of a classic credit card. The limit can be used in full or only in part. Interest is only charged on the amount used and is calculated on a daily basis.

Unlike an instalment loan, the negative balance on the credit card account can be completely cleared at any time in order to save interest. However, you pay for this freedom with an interest rate that is often more than double that of an instalment loan. For this reason, the use of the instalment facility should be weighed up carefully.

Credit cards on credit basis

In addition to the classic credit card, there are other models that, strictly speaking, no longer live up to the name because no credit is granted at all. With these models, however, the credit institutions are accommodating the high acceptance of credit cards. For example, the Girocard or the Maestro card have not yet become established in online retailing. However, most retailers do accept credit cards. If this works on a credit basis, it can also be issued to customers who do not have a high credit rating.

Credit card with link to current account

Many banks offer credit cards that are directly linked to the current account. There are accounts for which a Girocard can be requested as an alternative. Abroad, the Girocard is not known. Within Europe, the Maestro card is used. Modern and young smartphone banks no longer work with the Girocard at all, but only issue credit cards and Maestro cards.

When paying with a credit card linked to the current account, the amount is debited directly. With modern smartphone accounts, this even happens in real time. This means that the amount is immediately reserved in the account. The advantage is that the customer can take advantage of the high acceptance of credit cards and still keep a very good overview of their finances. The credit card’s credit limit is based on the balance on the current account and is constantly updated. Credit cards that are linked to a current account as a means of payment are often issued free of charge.

Prepaid credit cards as an alternative

Prepaid credit cards can only be used as a means of payment if they have been loaded in advance. They are not linked to the current account, but there is a collective account for all customers who have such a credit card with the bank. The transfer must be made to the collective account and assigned to the customer based on the number of his credit card. This can take one or two days. Only then is the credit card ready for use. Another disadvantage is the high fees that have to be paid for the prepaid credit cards. The prepaid credit card should only be applied for if other options are out of the question.

Credit card types with high acceptance in Germany and worldwide

In Germany and Europe, Mastercard and Visa credit cards have a very high acceptance. Mastercard is very often issued in connection with a current account, while Visa is often chosen as a prepaid solution or as a classic credit card.

Those who like to travel to America often, choose American Express or Diners Club. However, both credit cards require a good credit rating. They are usually only issued as a classic credit card linked to a credit account and cost an annual fee, which is not very cheap. Since there are cheaper offers in Europe with Mastercard and Visa, American Express and Diners Club are not so highly frequented in this country. This is also confirmed by the acceptance, which is limited to hotels, restaurants, gas stations and shops that sell high-priced goods.

The gas boiler – how it works, models & the most important facts

The term gas boiler presents some difficulties, as it is not clearly defined as a technical term. The word has become rather naturalized and generally summarizes all wall-hung devices. However, these devices can again be differentiated according to their mode of operation. There are so-called instantaneous water heaters, which only function as hot water preparation, but also other devices that can be used as boilers and are usually listed under the term combi-therme.

• Keyfact 1 – Gas boilers can work with or without a water tank, so they are variable and can be used individually.
• Keyfact 2 – Gas boilers can be combined with renewable energies and are environmentally friendly with biogas
• Keyfact 3 – Wall-hung gas boilers are small, compact and practical They are perfect for detached houses and condominiums

How it works – how does a gas boiler work?

Gas boilers have a modulating mode of operation, i.e. they work in a power-modulating manner. The burner output of the boiler is therefore always adapted to the current demand of the household. Latest from the market: market news. If the outside temperatures are low, the gas boiler usually operates at full output. In transitional months, the output can be reduced to 40 to 50 %, thus saving energy. Another possibility is a combination with an electronically controlled circulation pump. In this application, the modulation range can be between 20 and 100 %, which reduces gas consumption enormously.

Modern gas boilers are also built with condensing technology. The heat present in the flue gas is therefore used and not wasted. In addition, a normal chimney is not necessary with a gas boiler. The flue gases are cooled down by the condensing technology to such an extent that they can be discharged through a flue pipe with a small diameter. This pipe can be made of plastic or stainless steel, as these materials are sufficiently corrosion-resistant. Existing chimneys cannot be used, but the flue gas pipe can be routed through them.

Combi boilers produce both heating water and hot water for domestic use. Such boilers have an integrated heating control that switches over when a hot water tap is turned on at a tap point. The hot water is then diverted to where it is needed. But this technology also has a disadvantage. The hot water cannot be made available immediately to where it is needed, as it takes a moment to switch and divert. So cold water first flows out of the tap before the hot water arrives. To counteract this disadvantage, a micro storage tank with a capacity of five to ten litres can be installed to provide hot water immediately in such situations.

Gas boiler or gas boiler – features, differences & functionality

The gas boiler is characterised by the fact that it has neither an integrated nor a separate water storage tank. The heating water is led past the gas burner in a pipe and thus heated. In the case of a gas boiler, there is a water storage tank inside, in which a large amount of water is continuously heated by the gas burner. However, in both models, all the other components are equally included such as the circulating pump, the controls and the necessary expansion vessels. Both models also have many advantages and disadvantages, which can be decisive for the decision depending on individual circumstances.

A gas boiler can be used either for the preparation of hot water or combined whereby additionally the heating operation becomes possible. No matter which model you choose, the heating of the water always happens in the same way. As the gas boiler does not have a water tank, the water is fed through a pipe past the gas burner where it is heated. The great advantage that has developed through this technique is that hot water is only ever prepared when it is needed. Whereas a gas boiler always provides a large water storage tank full of hot water, the gas boiler only produces water when it is needed. This not only saves energy, but also greatly reduces the risk of legionella. However, how much hot water can be produced by a gas boiler generally depends on the output of the gas boiler.

This results in the following situation: A boiler in an apartment building is installed for all apartments and the hot water is provided decentrally. Here, additional electric instantaneous water heaters are used, although a gas boiler is very suitable as an alternative.

Hanging or standing – which model is suitable for your property

The gas boilers are available in a wide variety of models. An essential decision also concerns the future place where the therme should be located. So that individual wishes can be met, there are models that hang on the wall as well as models that can stand on the floor. These models offer different advantages and disadvantages.

The floor-standing gas boiler – high space requirement & large output range

When replacing an old gas boiler with a new condensing boiler, it makes sense to reuse the space previously required to install the new gas boiler on the floor. This is not only favourable because the installation effort is kept very low – as gas pipes etc. do not have to be re-laid – but also because the individual components are more easily accessible, thus enabling simple maintenance. The gas boilers installed on the floor require more space and need about 2-3 m² of space, but this space is available from the previous model anyway and is therefore simply reused. Floor-standing gas boilers also have another big advantage because the output range of this model is significantly higher than that of the more compact model on the wall. This gas boiler is therefore particularly suitable for apartment buildings or households with a large power requirement.

The wall-hung gas boiler – space-saving & inexpensive

Wall mounted gas boilers require much less space than floor standing models. For a wall mounted gas boiler only about half a square meter of floor space (floor space under the device) is required. They are therefore very variable and can even be easily installed in kitchen units, closet niches, the attic, but also in basements. Depending on which model you choose, however, you will also have to calculate the space required for the water storage tank. This is used, for example, in combination with a solar thermal system. Another advantage of wall-hung units is the low purchase price. The small compact devices are comparatively very inexpensive next to the larger floor-standing models. The wall-mounted model is therefore particularly suitable for detached and semi-detached houses, but also for owner-occupied flats. The performance range here is lower than for the floor-standing model, but is completely sufficient for the area of application. The installation effort of the models is very low, the devices are easily transportable and above all inexpensive.

Alternative energies – types, tasks & their importance

Up to now, energy in the EU has mainly been generated from fossil fuels, such as coal or oil, and to a lesser extent from nuclear fuels. Alternative energy sources, such as solar energy, hydroelectric power or wind power, have so far played a rather subordinate role. Yet these renewable energies are the future. What are their tasks, what are the different types and why is it so important to use alternative energies for energy production?

• Keyfact 1 – alternative energies are the future of energy production and must be further promoted and improved in the coming years
• Keyfact 2 – Fossil fuels are slowly running out and will sooner or later be depleted and no longer usable

Alternative energies – why are they so important?

The production of energy with the help of nuclear fuels has clearly more disadvantages than advantages. The nuclear waste that is produced during energy generation cannot yet be converted into an ecologically safe form using any technology. So the waste will always be a burden on the environment. The risk of nuclear power plants and nuclear waste repositories is therefore too high and additionally associated with extremely adverse consequences in the event of the release of large quantities of radioactive material.

But fossil fuels also have some disadvantages. Probably the most devastating is the bad impact on the environment. The burning of coal, oil and gas produces CO2 emissions that are proven to increase the greenhouse effect. The consequences are natural disasters and a steadily progressing climate change. But also security-relevant aspects are directly recognizable in the oil age with the permanent oil and gulf crises. The economic risks caused by oil have a direct influence on the world economy and regularly cause economic crises. The most important reason why fossil fuels do not represent the future of energy production is the time span of the fuels. They are non-renewable and will run out in the foreseeable future. First oil, then natural gas, and coal last. Sooner or later, fossil fuels will be used up and will therefore no longer be able to provide a source of energy.

The solution should therefore be renewable energies, which are not only environmentally friendly, but are also eternally renewable and therefore cannot be consumed. Solar energies (water, biomass, wind, solar thermal and photovoltaic) therefore show many advantages. There are closed cycles, the CO2 is spared and also with regard to the national economy the alternative energies rise. The consumers of renewable energies are not only independent of large energy companies, but also create new jobs in their own country and achieve positive effects on the balance of payments and actions. The environment also thanks us, because after decades of damage with CO2 emissions and nuclear fuels, we fall back on the basis of nature and exhaust the given possibilities.

Renewable energies – hydropower as an energy supplier

The generation of energy from hydropower is a method that is not very common so far. Nevertheless, there are some advantages to using energy from this renewable resource. The energy conversion happens here with a very high efficiency, which meant that a high percentage of the energy used can be converted into electricity. In addition, the energy production from hydropower does not release any pollutants and therefore does not harm the environment and the waste heat is also very low.

The use of these alternative energies will therefore continue to improve and spread as long as they are economically feasible and economically justifiable. Because a disadvantage shows up also here. The construction of a hydroelectric power plant usually interferes with the ecological balance of the watercourse, which is very sensitive. The planning of such a plant is therefore not necessarily easy and requires a great deal of specialist knowledge and a certain ecological orientation.

Hydroelectric power plants use the gradient of a body of water, usually a river. The flowing water is taken from the natural riverbed and directed through pipes or channels to a turbine. The water causes the turbine to rotate. The rotation generates electricity, which is converted into usable energy by a generator.

Renewable energies – wind power as an energy supplier

Energy can also be generated from wind power. For this, however, the wind must have a certain strength. In coastal areas, the wind is usually stronger, which is why more wind farms are being built here. Off-shore wind farms, which are built in the sea near the coast, also use these high wind speeds. In order for wind to be used sensibly for energy generation, it needs a speed of four to five metres per second.

Different wind turbines are used to generate energy from wind. On the one hand, there are wind turbines with 12 to 24 blades. These are mostly used for direct mechanical energy use, for example to drive water pumps. Probably the best known, however, are the wind turbines with two or three blades, which can often be seen in fields or on the coast. They generate direct alternating current through rotation and a constant speed via a generator. The rotor blades are specially designed to withstand all conditions and still work effectively.

Renewable energies – solar energy as an energy supplier

Solar energy is probably the most widespread renewable energy to date. Both as a solar system on rooftops and as solar parks on open spaces, you see solar cells again and again. The solar cells make use of the energy of the sun and convert it into usable energy. Here, a distinction is generally made between solar systems and photovoltaic systems.

Solar systems use the energy of the sun and convert it into usable heat. A solar system can therefore be used, for example, to operate heating systems in the house. For this purpose, houses are specially planned so that the sun contributes as much as possible to the heating of the house.

Photovoltaics, on the other hand, uses the sun’s energy to convert it into electricity. Photovoltaic systems are also installed on the roof for this purpose, which can capture the solar energy and convert it into usable energy for the household. This can be used to generate electricity in the house and run machines.

It makes most sense to use both systems in combination, as the household is then no longer dependent on large energy companies and all the energy for their own home is produced themselves. The advantages are enormous and the environment is protected by such houses very much. The optimal use of solar energy requires quite a bit of prerequisites the advantages compensate for this, however. Learn more about solar energy and the use of renewable energy in our great guide to photovoltaics!