In an apartment building, the heat pump is mostly planned as a central solution that supplies all apartments – less often decentralised per apartment. The challenges lie in the correct dimensioning for the higher heat demand, in the sound planning of the outdoor unit and in the distribution in the building. Combined with a solar system and a self-consumption community (ZEV), a strong overall system is created. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- In an apartment building, a central heat pump that supplies all apartments usually makes sense.
- The dimensioning follows the same principle as in a single-family home, just for a larger heat demand.
- The sound of the outdoor unit must be planned particularly carefully when several apartments and neighbours are affected.
- The distribution of heat and billing among the parties should be regulated from the very beginning.
- With a solar system and ZEV, your own electricity can be used jointly for heat and household.
Central or decentralised – how do you plan in an apartment building?
Mostly central. The widespread solution is a shared heat pump that supplies the entire building with heating and hot water – similar to how a shared oil or gas heating system used to do. It is located in one place, and the heat is brought into the apartments via the existing distribution system.
The decentralised variant – a small heat pump per apartment – is the exception. It occurs in special constellations, for example with very different uses or if a shared solution is structurally difficult. In most apartment buildings, however, the central solution is simpler, more efficient and cheaper to maintain, because only one device has to be planned, maintained and operated.
The same basic principle applies to the central heat pump as in a single-family home, just on a larger scale. Whether an air or ground probe heat pump is the right source is decided as usual by location and subsoil. The larger heat demand makes careful design even more important.
What is particularly important during planning?
On three points that carry more weight in an apartment building than in a single-family home: dimensioning, sound and distribution.
Dimensioning. The heat demand of several apartments is higher, and the design must hit it – not according to a flat rate per square metre, but according to the actual demand of the building. How correct dimensioning works and why a heat pump that is too large is just as much of a problem as one that is too small is described in the article on dimensioning. In an apartment building, a design error weighs more heavily because it affects more parties.
Sound. A larger outdoor unit moves more air and can emit more sound – and in an apartment building there are more windows, neighbouring apartments and adjacent properties that can be affected. Choosing the location and complying with the regulations are therefore particularly important. The basic rules of location planning can be found in the article Sound expert report & location choice; their clean application is decisive in an apartment building.
Distribution and billing. If a shared heat pump supplies everyone, the heating costs must be distributed fairly among the parties. This is – similar to the battery storage in an apartment building – less a technical than an organisational question that should be regulated from the beginning.
| Topic | In a single-family home | In an apartment building |
|---|---|---|
| System | mostly one HP | mostly one central HP for everyone |
| Dimensioning | one household | higher demand, several parties |
| Sound | Neighbours | more apartments & neighbours affected |
| Billing | does not apply | distribution among the parties necessary |
Simplified overview, as of: July 2026. The planning for the specific building is decisive.
How does the solar system fit into this?
Very well – especially in an apartment building, the combination makes for a well-rounded system. A heat pump is the largest electricity consumer in the building, and a solar system on the roof can provide part of this electricity itself.
For the solar electricity to benefit everyone, a self-consumption community (ZEV) is usually required. It allows the electricity from the roof to be used jointly – for the heat pump as well as for the household electricity of the apartments. How such a community and a possible shared battery storage function is described in the article on battery storage in an apartment building. The basic interaction between a heat pump and solar electricity, which also applies here, is in the article Combining heat pump & photovoltaics.
Another point speaks for the switch: the replacement of a fossil heating system with a heat pump receives incentives. How the incentives are structured in the Canton of Zurich is shown in the article on HP incentives – the contributions can also make up a relevant part for an apartment building.
With an apartment building, the focus shifts: technically, the central heat pump is not rocket science, but the boundary conditions are more demanding. The sound of the larger outdoor unit is an issue with several affected apartments that we tackle early and precisely – a poorly placed device will later cause trouble with several parties at once. And many underestimate the question of how the heat is billed among the residents. We advise thinking about this together with the solar system and the ZEV: one investment, one joint system, clear rules. Where this is set up cleanly from the beginning, it runs smoothly for years.
Frequently asked questions
Is a central or a decentralised heat pump better?
In most apartment buildings, the central one: one device supplies all apartments, which is more efficient and cheaper to maintain. The decentralised solution with a small heat pump per apartment is reserved for special cases. What fits depends on the building, the existing distribution system and the usage.
How are the heating costs distributed among the parties?
Via consumption-based billing that records the heat consumption of the individual apartments. The specific design depends on the ownership structure and the existing regulations in the building. It is important that the distribution is clarified and transparent from the beginning – this avoids later discussions.
Is sound a bigger problem in an apartment building?
It requires more care, because more apartments and neighbours can be affected and the outdoor unit is larger. With the right choice of location and compliance with regulations, it is manageable. This planning belongs at the beginning and not at the end of the project.
Who decides on the heat pump in condominium ownership (STWEG)?
The community of condominium owners via a resolution, as the heating belongs to the communal system. Because a larger investment is involved, the topic should be put on the agenda cleanly prepared – ideally right together with the question of a solar system.
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Heat pump for the apartment building – planned from a single source
We dimension the central heat pump, plan the sound carefully and include the solar system and ZEV right from the start. This creates a system that suits all parties.
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Sources: General technical basics on heat pumps in apartment buildings (central/decentralised systems, dimensioning, sound); empirical values from the planning practice of ecoEn GmbH, Zurich region. The cantonal specifications and the planning for the specific building are decisive.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
