New Build or Renovation: Which Heating System Should You Choose?

A clear guide to help you make the right choices, based on technical constraints, expected efficiency, and your budget.

Building a new home or renovating an existing property involves very different heating contexts. In new construction, you start with a blank page: everything can be optimized, from insulation to the building’s orientation, including the overall performance of the energy system. You can therefore aim for highly efficient solutions, perfectly integrated from the design stage.|

In contrast, when it comes to renovation, you need to work with what already exists: the volumes, the electrical or hydraulic installations, and even the occupants’ heating habits. The right system will be the one that adapts to these technical constraints while significantly improving thermal comfort and energy consumption.

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Heating in New Builds: Aiming for Maximum Efficiency

Thanks to the RE2020 requirements, new constructions are increasingly well-insulated, making it possible to consider heating systems with very low energy consumption. Here are the most common and recommended solutions:

• Heat pump (aerothermal or geothermal): draws energy from the air or the ground to provide efficient heating with minimal consumption. Ideal for well-insulated new homes.

• Hydronic underfloor heating: invisible, comfortable, and evenly distributed, it works perfectly at low temperatures, especially when paired with a heat pump. It delivers excellent thermal comfort with reduced energy use.

• Combined solar heating: used as a complement to a main system, it helps optimize self-consumption and reduce energy bills.

• Connected inertia radiators: perfect as an additional option in specific rooms (bathroom, office), they provide responsive, localized heat with room-by-room control.

The priority here is integration within an overall performance strategy: airtightness, controlled ventilation, renewable energy, and smart home systems.

Heating in Renovations: Adapting Without a Complete Overhaul

Renovating a home often calls for pragmatic choices. The heating system must adapt to the existing structure without requiring major construction work. Here are the most common options, ranked from the simplest to the most demanding:

• Next-generation electric radiators — the least restrictive solution: easy to install and requiring no major work, they quickly upgrade comfort levels. Modern inertia or radiant models now deliver excellent efficiency, with room-by-room regulation and optimized consumption.

• Pellet stoves: as a complement to a main heating system or for small homes, they provide good efficiency while diffusing pleasant warmth.

• Air-to-air or air-to-water heat pumps replacing a boiler: if the building is well-insulated or after thermal improvements, these systems are a high-performance, durable alternative.

• Hybrid systems: hybrid boilers (gas + heat pump) or mixed setups combining several energy sources. Ideal for limiting upfront costs while beginning the energy transition.

The key in renovation is to strike the right balance between performance, cost, and technical feasibility. Sometimes, simply modernizing the existing system is enough to significantly improve comfort and reduce energy bills.

In Summary: Matching Heating to Your Project’s Needs

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an older apartment, your choice of heating system should always reflect the reality of your property: its insulation, size, existing equipment… as well as your lifestyle and budget.

At Fogo, we design electric inertia radiators made to suit both new builds and renovation projects. Stylish, efficient, and easy to install, they deliver premium thermal comfort without major work. An ideal solution for a modern, flexible, and energy-efficient home.