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Is A Geothermal Installation More Expensive Than A Gas Or Oil Furnace?
With a geothermal system, it is necessary to reclaim the heated (or cooled) water from below ground. An additional expense to installing geothermal is the cost of boring holes or digging trenches to bury pipes that carry the environmentally friendly antifreeze through the earth. The 30% Federal tax credit along with the increased efficiency should recover these costs in a relatively short period of time.
Are There Many of These Systems in Operation Now?
There are over 750,000 residential and commercial geothermal systems in operation today. Sales and installations of renewable energy equipment has increased dramatically in recent years. The current administration is offering great incentives to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and begin using more clean, renewable geothermal energy.
Is The Air From A Geothermal System Dry?
Furnaces that burn fossil fuels have a heat exchanger that the combustion gases pass through before being exhausted to the atmosphere. The entering air is circulated around it to be heated and then distributed throughout the house. Heat exchanger temperatures typically range from three to four hundred degrees. These high temperatures burn the moisture out of the heated air leaving it dry and uncomfortable.
With a geothermal heat pump, the entering air is circulated around an evaporator coil with an average temperature of one hundred and ten degrees. The air looses no humidity through this transference of heat. These systems are generally set up to run at lower fan speeds for longer periods of time to distribute the warm air quietly and more evenly.
When Will I Begin To Recover My Installation Investment?
A professionally engineered and installed geothermal system begins to pay for itself the day it is put into operation. Most new installations are projected to reach their "break even" point within three to four years.
Why Haven't I Seem More Of These Systems Being Installed?
Until the recently passed stimulus bill, the homeowner was only entitled to a small tax credit to offset the additional system costs. Now that 30% of the entire installation can be recovered, interest in renewable energy is growing faster than ever before.
Will My Home Be Comfortable When The Outdoor Temperature Drops Below Freezing?
The maximum and minimum outdoor temperatures for your geographical area are factored in to properly size the equipment used for each installation. On the rare occasion when the mercury drops below design temperatures, a resistance heater will kick in to supplement the heating process. A properly designed geothermal system will provide comfortable and quiet climate control all year long at a fraction of the cost of burning fossil fuels.
How Long Will A Geothermal System Last?
Like any other appliance, the better the quality, the longer the anticipated life expectancy. The commonly used DR-11 Polyethylene pipe used for ground loop installation is warranted for 55 years. If future technology finds a more effective and efficient way to use the energy stored in the earth, chances are your ground loop system will be an asset for many years to come.
How Much Land Will I Need To Install The Ground Loop System?
A vertical bore hole system can be located in a relatively small area. A typical residential will require two to four holes spaced about 15' apart. After the holes are drilled and the ground loops are installed, they can be covered by lawns, driveways, walkways ect... If there is sufficient land, a horizontal ground loop can be installed, usually at a reduced cost.
What Are Some Other Benefits To Installing Geothermal?
In addition to the long term financial benefits, the advantages to going green are too numerous to mention. Extracting heat from the earth, supplied by the sun, is an extremely clean process. This transference of energy requires no combustion or flames, as a result there are very low (if any) carbon emissions with this process.
Aside from the ground loop(s), the system in installed entirely indoors where it is protected from the elements. Because the fan-coil air temperatures are usually around 100 to 110 degrees, instead of 350 to 450 degrees like gas or oil heat exchangers, ground source heat pumps will not dry out the air during heating mode.
In the summer air conditioning mode, the heat extracted from the air can be used to warm water for domestic use, resulting in more energy savings. These systems also make very efficient pool heaters.
There are many ways to increase the equity in your home, but none more affective than lowering the cost to maintain comfortable climate control all year long. Low carbon emissions and energy bills will undoubtedly increase the resale value should you decide to sell.
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