Household electrification is a one-way street

In recent years, the debate surrounding the energy transition has taken center stage. The need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the continuous rise in fuel prices, and technological advances in the field of electric vehicles and heat pumps make it clear that household electrification is no longer a luxury but a necessity. The shift to electricity allows for significant resource savings, reduced pollution, and independence from fluctuations in international oil and natural gas prices.

Let's look at the issue in practical terms, starting with heating. An uninsulated house of around 90 square meters heated by an oil burner operating eight hours a day, consuming approximately 0.7 liters per hour, requires 5.6 liters per day. At a price of €1.00 per liter, the daily cost is €5.60, or approximately €168 per month. Over a five-month winter period, the cost amounts to €840. If the same house uses a heat pump with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3.5, the electricity consumption for the same amount of heat will be only 18.3 kWh per day. With an electricity price of €0.15 per kilowatt hour, the daily cost is limited to €2.75, or approximately €82.5 per month. The savings amount to €85.5 per month and €840 – 412 = €428 per year for a five-month heating period.

Installing a heat pump costs around €4,000, including supply and installation. Taking into account the annual savings of €428, the payback period is approximately 9.5 years. If it is connected to a boiler, eliminating the need for an electric water heater, the payback period is reduced to 5.5 years. From the sixth year onwards, each winter season translates into a net financial benefit. If the pump is supplied through subsidized programs such as "I'm changing my heating system" or certain packages offered in conjunction with an electricity company, the payback period is two to three years at most.

The same is true for transportation. A gasoline-powered car that consumes 150 liters per month, at a price of €1.70 per liter, costs €255 per month or €3,060 per year. An electric vehicle, on the other hand, consumes approximately 15 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers. Assuming it travels 1,000 kilometers per month, it needs 150 kilowatt hours, or €22.5 per month or €270 per year. The annual savings amount to €2,790.

Buying an electric car naturally requires a larger initial investment. If a household scraps its old gasoline-powered car worth €12,000 and buys an electric car for €27,000, the net additional cost is €15,000. With annual savings of €2,790, the investment pays for itself in about 5.4 years. From the sixth year onwards, almost €3,000 is saved each year on fuel alone, not counting the reduced maintenance costs, as electric vehicles do not need oil, filter, or exhaust changes.

If we look at the overall picture of the electrified household, the benefits are impressive. The heat pump and electric car together reduce annual operating costs by approximately €3,428. If we calculate the initial cost of the two investments (€4,000 + €15,000 = €19,000) and the total annual savings, the combined payback period is less than six years, even without subsidies. After that, the household enjoys decades of much lower costs and zero dependence on fuel price fluctuations.

Beyond the purely economic aspect, there are also environmental benefits. The use of electricity, especially when accompanied by photovoltaic production, drastically reduces the carbon footprint of each household. A heat pump emits up to 70% less CO₂ than an oil boiler, while an electric car eliminates emissions while driving.

Electrification, therefore, is not merely a technological advancement, but a strategic choice for economic sustainability and environmental responsibility. Despite the initial cost, the payback period is short and the benefits are long-lasting. With the parallel development of renewable energy sources, consumers can become active producers, further reducing their expenses.

The path forward is now clear: heating, cooling, transportation, and the daily life of the modern household tend to rely on electricity. Electrification is not a future option, but the only realistic response to today's energy and environmental challenges. It is, in fact, a one-way street.