Heating with wood at a glance

This method of heating is environmentally friendly because of the neutral CO2 balance that results from the fact that the wood does not emit more carbon dioxide during combustion than the tree absorbs during its lifetime. Cost-effective is this method, since once the fuel is very favorable in the purchase and on the other hand due to the possible promotions for wood heatings. If you decide to heat with wood, you can choose between wood chips, wood briquettes or wood pellets.

When making this decision, you should consider whether you want to heat a single room with a stove or a fireplace or whether you want to heat with a modern wood central heating system. The single room heating is mostly called comfort or additional heating and is mostly used next to the normal heating, hence the name.

• Alternative to gas and oil
• Neutral CO2 balance
• Favourable raw material prices
• Subsidies possible
• Single room firing or wood central heating

Heating with fireplace & stove fireplace?

A fireplace provides relaxation, a sense of well-being and warmth. That’s why it’s not surprising that fireplaces and other stoves are at the top of the wish list of homeowners. Especially on cold days, there is nothing better than snuggling up in front of a crackling fireplace bursting with warmth and enjoying the time. There are many different types of fireplaces. From open and closed to tiled or pellet stoves that all have advantages and disadvantages.

• Fireplace & stove fireplace

Firewood & Fireplace Wood Storage – Larger quantities of firewood, are often stored on properties. The garden or a barn are often used for storage. Larger quantities of firewood, once stored on a property, must be stored in a fire-safe location.

• Tip: Firewood + Storage

How heating with wood works

This contribution of the ZDF informs you comprehensively! The title of the series “The truth about heating with wood” in 2 parts.

Part 2 of “The truth about heating with wood”.

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Living landscapes – sensible combination

The living room landscape exudes cosiness. It is comfortable and often takes up less space than the combination of several sofas and armchairs. The focus of this furniture art is the comfortable sitting and of course the modern, cozy look. The living room landscape convinces all along the line. Secure yourself a comfortable and lasting highlight in the living room. The living landscape attracts all eyes on itself.

The classic definition of the living landscape includes the composition of several elements into a unified piece of furniture. Partial seating options of the living landscape are basically firmly connected to each other. Thus, the living landscape is the modern alternative to the classic “sets”, which consist of one or more sofas and armchairs. Well known are the combinations as 3-seater, 2-seater and a single armchair. The living room landscape can usually be transported very well – despite its supposed bulky nature. It can often be disassembled into individual elements, which in many cases can also be variably reassembled into a new living landscape. The application possibilities of the modern and high-quality living landscape are manifold.

Sitting, sleeping and resting – a living landscape for everything

With its design, the living landscape can fulfil the most diverse functions. Conventional living landscapes combine a wide variety of seating. Actually, this includes armchairs, the actual sofa and a corner connection. Many living landscapes have similarities to the ottoman, which has been used since ancient times as a place to sleep or relax in the afternoon. The versatility of the living room sofa explains its worldwide success. Living room landscapes enjoy great popularity because the design and construction provide comfort. The continuous seating area conveys a sense of community just by looking at it. A small disadvantage of the living landscape is often its spaciousness. Even if less space is taken up than with usual sofa sets, the living landscape in its rather large format must still find its place in the house and apartment.

The most beautiful rooms for the living landscape

Basically, living landscapes can be placed in all apartments. Smaller variants of the living landscape make small living rooms more manageable and tidy. They also offer more seating space than conventional sofas. The better integrated the living landscape is, the more guests can eventually take a seat. Voluminous landscapes are particularly suitable for high or spacious rooms. They lend even the most matter-of-fact and sober room a comforting cosiness. In large areas, expansive living landscapes look like an oasis and you almost inevitably have to take a seat. Perfect for the voluminous living landscape is the loft – wide and high in its build. However, for many also structurally large living landscapes, a conventional spacious living room is suitable to show them off beautifuly.

Design and decoration of the living landscape

When choosing the best sofa for your home, you should also pay attention to the design. There is a rich variety of shapes in the living landscapes. Especially often you can see the modern U-shapes. But also classic Wohnlandschaftsformen do not go out of fashion. In some cases, small breaks in style have a particularly attractive effect. If the living landscape is supplemented with a small ottoman, on wooden construction, this can create very harmonious effects. A stool or an armchair can also create a round overall picture. In terms of colours and patterns, all combinations are conceivable in these designs: significant breaks between colours and designs, but also a similar style and colour scheme create interesting impulses in the room.

Modern living room ideas – Video

Unsurpassed – the diversity of living landscapes

The classics among the living landscapes include two types in particular – or better – designs:

– Plannable living landscapes that offer adjustable reclining surfaces and armrests, for example, or that can be converted into sleeping areas in sub-areas,
– simple living landscapes that have no extras other than their seating function.

Which is the right choice for your room also depends on the requirements of the living landscape. If it is used very rarely, the simple version of the combination will probably suffice. If it is used more often and more versatile, a few extras can provide even more comfort. Thus, the living landscape can definitely offer a high added value. Attention should be paid to a high-quality upholstery and a good durability of the covers – but more about that in the next point.

Criteria for a comfortable living landscape

An excellent upholstery of the living landscape increases the seating pleasure and serves the relaxation. As with mattresses, the upholstery is the deciding factor. Does back pain set in after a short time or do guests have to get up frequently and move around the room? Good upholstery is beneficial to health and contributes to the comfort of the living area. The stability of the upholstery and armrests should be guaranteed. The right seat height, which can be very individual, should also be taken into account. For example, if you have problems getting up from a kneeling position, you should choose a higher seat height for your sofa.

The covers should also meet the requirements of the users. If it is heavily used, attention should also be paid to a durable fabric. If there are children in the house, it is recommended to pay attention to removable and washable covers. When buying, also look at the back of the sofa. If this is also covered, the elements can also be placed freely in the room without visual restrictions. However, as with other pieces of furniture, all the extras and benefits are often only available with price surcharges. More financial tips: finance & money. But the flexibility and its cosiness make the sofa a purchase for life.

Living landscapes for the terrace

Living landscapes are also offered for larger outdoor areas. These are made of weatherproof plastic, often from artificial rattan. The durable and shapely living landscapes enchant in the garden and on the terrace. In the outdoor area, attention should also be paid to the cover of the seat cushions. These should not get soaked with rainwater and should retain their beautiful colour even after a long time. The cover should be lightfast and weatherproof.

The living landscape in the garden conjures up a particularly exotic ambience. Surrounded by torches, the feeling of distance and orient is one. With the living landscape as the focal point on the terrace or in the conservatory, you will enchant your guests – and yourself. It is especially nice to play with colours in the green of nature. Combine extra cushions, tea light holders and flower arrangements with the outdoor living landscape.

Write to us – we advise you around the living landscape

Are you still undecided? We will be happy to advise you on all aspects of furnishing your home. With a lot of experience and a sure feeling for colour tone and forms we also furnish your flat or your house with pleasure. We can also recommend living landscapes, which have proven themselves with numerous customers over a long period of time. These sofas are characterized by their durability as well as by a particularly good price-performance ratio. Create lasting comfort in your home with the living landscape. The living landscape becomes an eye-catcher in the living room and attracts visitors like magnetically. Comfort can be seen – with the ideal living landscape for your home.

Actually, it is not possible to really do anything wrong when buying the living room landscape. Except that it was chosen too large or too small. Ask the professionals about the right shape and the optimal measurement for your living landscape. We are happy to advise you on all aspects of indoor and outdoor living landscapes. With our many years of experience, we will be happy to make suitable suggestions for the best possible design of your living spaces and outdoor areas. You will enjoy the new, unusual and yet always used piece of furniture for many years.

KfW at a glance: Improving domestic conditions

• Abbreviation for Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (Reconstruction Loan Corporation)
• Institution under public law and largest national promotional bank
• Objective: to improve social, economic and environmental conditions in Germany

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Alternative energies at a glance: non-consumable sources

• Environmentally friendly energy resources
• Partially subsidised by the state
• Different energies: solar energy, biodiesel, dams, wind farms …
• Efficiency should be assessed by the expert
• Only relevant for own electricity generation

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Power and heat generation from renewable energies – almost unlimited availability

Regenerative, renewable or alternative energies live up to their many names in any case. Because their best feature is that they are virtually infinitely available or renew themselves in a relatively short time. Thus, they are far ahead of their competitors such as oil, natural gas or coal. Renewable energies are therefore the future and the way to counter the currently still prevailing fossil energies or nuclear energy. The alternative energies offer a great alternative and are green as a further plus point, so do not harm our environment.

• Keyfact 1 – renewable energies, such as solar or wind energy, offer a major contribution to climate protection, but require a relatively high initial investment for the installation of the system.
• Keyfact 2 – the conversion or installation of renewable energy systems is subsidised by the state and can be easily financed thanks to favourable interest rates.

Renewable energy – what are the different forms?

There are various options available to property owners for generating electricity and heat using renewable energies. Probably the best known is the generation of energy through solar energy. Here, a distinction is made between photovoltaics and solar thermal energy. Photovoltaics is used to convert sunlight into electricity, while solar thermal energy is used to convert solar energy into heat. Learn more about harnessing energy from sunlight here: ‘Solar Energy for Property Owners’. Another way to generate energy is with the help of wind power. A wind turbine uses the lift of the wind to generate energy from it.

A rather unknown method is the generation of energy from biomass. This occurs in the form of wood, energy crops, but also residual materials such as organic waste, liquid manure or straw. Stored solar energy is also converted into heat, electricity or fuel in biomass plants. What most people do not know is that this type of renewable energy also includes pellet heating. The last form of alternative energy is the heat pump. This transports heat from the ground and thus generates electricity. But hot water can also be supplied by a heat pump. So today there are already many forms that are still relatively unknown and could provide the future of energy production.

Building owners – renewable energies for heat generation are mandatory

The Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG) applies to builders of new buildings. This states that a proportionate use of renewable energies for heat generation is mandatory. Even though these must be used, renewable energies also have many advantages for building owners. The use of alternative energies makes builders independent of rising energy costs and large energy companies. However, some decisions should be well thought out in advance. Since renewable energies are partly not always constantly available, different energy sources should be considered to complement the renewable energies. In addition, it should be noted that renewable energy must be used for heat generation and that it therefore makes sense to use renewable energy to generate electricity. All these points are to be seen of course also from the financial point of view and there are some things to consider. Depending on which regenerative energy the property owner decides to use, there are several technical systems that need to be invested in.

Promotion for regenerative energies – State promotes real estate owners

The conversion of a property to renewable energies can be financed in various ways. All conversions that exceed the amount of € 50,000 can be financed with a building loan. Different providers have different conditions at which the construction loan can be taken out. If the amount is less than € 50,000, the project can be financed by the property owner through an installment loan.

However, the state also supports property owners who want to convert to renewable energies with various funding programmes. The federal development bank, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) supports individuals and companies by offering these favorable interest rates for a KfW loan. Divided into different funding programs, property owners or even builders can thus use favorable financing for the construction of renewable energy. The renewable energy law provides however likewise a guaranteed feed-in tariff, as long as river from regenerativ energies of real estate owners into the public electricity net are fed. This creates a small source of additional income for property owners. Here however caution is in demand! Because a tax trap for private individuals is quickly hidden here. Learn more about this topic in our article about solar energy!

Advantages and disadvantages – renewable energy sources at a glance

Building a home with renewable energy, or even converting the property to use renewable energy, has a number of benefits for owners:

• You protect the environment and a contribution is made to climate protection
• They are independent of rising energy costs and do not support the big energy companies.
• Financing is made easy for you thanks to funding from KfW
• The feed-in tariff could become a monthly extra income for you

Of course, each side also has its disadvantages, which is why property owners and builders should think carefully before opting for renewable energies – after all, both sides must always be considered:

• The investment for the installation of the technical equipment is incurred and is not necessarily favorable
• The output of renewable energies can be subject to fluctuations
• Some renewable energy installations can mean cuts in the natural environment
• Availability can sometimes be limited

Renewable Energies in Germany – Energy Turnaround and its Goals

The switch to renewable energies has been underway in Germany for several years under the term “energy transition”. The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which has existed since 2000, regulates the promotion of green electricity in Germany. This law has brought about a major change, especially in the field of electricity generation. As a result, the share of renewable energy in gross consumption has changed from 6 percent in 2000 to 29 percent in 2016. Smaller advances are being made in the automotive sector. Electric cars are a well-known topic, but electric cars that run on electricity from renewable sources are the only option so far and there are no alternatives yet. There is still a lot of work to be done here to make all cars run on renewable energy in the future. In the area of heating there is also only little progress. A large part of the buildings in Germany are still heated with fossil fuels, only for new buildings there are now rules and regulations that require renewable energy.

Germany’s current climate target is to produce 40 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 than in 1990. Whether this goal will be achieved and whether a complete conversion to renewable energies is possible in the future is still written in the stars. All we know for sure is that research into renewable energies will continue and that the EEG requirement is a step in the right direction.