Heating domestic hot water remains one of the largest energy costs in hotels, apartment buildings, business premises such as hair salons and fitness centres, and in many industrial sectors. This is where an untapped opportunity lies for significant and long-term savings that can have a major impact on business success and competitiveness.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen numerous investments in the energy renovation of building envelopes and the modernisation of heating systems. But domestic hot water preparation has often been overlooked — even though it is one of the biggest energy consumers, especially in sectors with high daily consumption.
A hotel guest in Europe uses between 150 and 250 litres of water per day. Around 30 to 40% of that is hot domestic water — that’s about 60 to 100 litres that need heating. In practice, this means a hotel with 100 guests consumes over 6,000 litres of hot water per day — the same applies to an apartment building with 40 flats. In industry, the figures quickly exceed 10,000 litres, especially in the food, chemical or textile sectors.
Heating 1,000 litres of water from 10°C to 55°C requires around 58 kWh of thermal energy. If provided by an electric boiler or inefficient boiler, this can cost around 10 euros per day — and nearly 4,000 euros a year for just one cubic metre of daily consumption.
Thanks to their exceptional efficiency, domestic hot water heat pumps can dramatically reduce these costs. With a coefficient of performance (COP) above 4, they produce more than four times the heat energy for every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed. This means 75% lower electricity consumption for domestic hot water.
A 50-room hotel using about 6,000 kWh per month for heating domestic water can reduce its consumption to 1,500 kWh per month with a heat pump. At today’s electricity prices, that’s nearly 10,000 euros in annual savings.
An investment in energy-efficient domestic hot water preparation with KRONOTERM heat pumps pays for itself in just 2 to 5 years thanks to their outstanding performance.
Compared to oil or gas boilers, heat pumps don’t require regular burner servicing, nozzle replacements or fuel storage — resulting in even more savings and fewer worries for facility managers. Such an investment often improves a building’s energy class and increases property value. As a carbon-free technology, it can also bring additional points for environmental certificates and grant applications.
KRONOTERM domestic hot water heat pumps are designed to handle large daily consumption peaks. Modular solutions are available that allow multiple units to be linked into a system with greater hot water capacity, ensuring reliable supply even during high-demand periods — with no risk of guests running out of hot water.
For businesses looking to boost their energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and enhance their sustainability profile, KRONOTERM domestic hot water heat pumps are one of the smartest investments. It’s no longer just about heating water — it’s a strategic decision with a strong financial impact.
Contact us to find out how a KRONOTERM domestic hot water heat pump can reduce your costs, improve your competitiveness and support a sustainable future for your business.
