The Myths of Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Dispelling common myths about geothermal heating and cooling.
Geothermal heating and cooling is by no means, a new technology. It has been around, as we know it, for decades now. The technology itself is, in fact, quite simple. It’s no more complex than your average refrigerator. Furthermore, geothermal heating and cooling technology (technically known as geo-exchange) has been recognized as the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly system in the industry. Yet geothermal HVAC remains a niche market to this day.
Why?
One explanation is that early geothermal technology and methods were not as sophisticated as they are today. A combination of inexperienced contractors and DIY’ers presented a number of stumbling blocks for the new technology, including: over-sizing of units, failing to properly analyze heat load of the home, miscalculating well depths, so on and so forth. As a result, the experiences had by early adopters of geothermal systems, perpetuated many misconceptions about geothermal heating and cooling as a whole.
We would like to address a few of these common geothermal myths and bring them to light.
You Will Need a “Backup” Heat Source for Your Geothermal System
This is a common misconception about geothermal, which is a result of geothermal installations not being sized and configured properly in the past. The truth is, that when operating properly, a geothermal heating and cooling system will keep your home at a constant 72°F more efficiently than any other heating system on the market. This is why it is very important to have an experienced and knowledgeable contractor to properly design and install your geothermal system. A heat load calculation needs to be performed on your home. A heat load calculation takes into account many heat loss factors; square footage, type and size of windows, quality of insulation, orientation of the home, etc. Only then can a geothermal system be designed and installed to run at optimal performance.
Geothermal Efficiency Will Drop During Days of Extreme Cold
While outside temperatures most certainly have an effect on all heating systems, geothermal systems are affected the least. This is because the heat source for a geothermal system comes from under the ground which remains at a constant average temperature of 50°F year round. In order to heat your home, a geothermal system only needs to increase the ground source temperature by 20° and transfer it to your home. Common air-source heat pumps rely on harvesting and boosting the temperature from the outside air which, in fact are the true source of the myths about geothermal heat pump efficiency. Fossil fuel heaters need to create their own heat using combustion, starting essentially from 0°. Fuel combustion also has the negative effect of creating carbon monoxide in your home, a problem which is non-existent with a geothermal system.
Geothermal is Too Expensive
Is geothermal too expensive? The operating cost of a geothermal system is so low, there is almost no comparison to fossil fuel or electric systems. The better question to ask is not how much geothermal will cost you, but how much it will save you? The money you save on heating your home with a geothermal heat pump will pay back the cost of installation. Whereas, going with a fossil fuel system, you will always be at the mercy of continuously rising fuel costs with little hope of saving any money- let alone paying itself back in the long run.
The installation cost of a geothermal system is more expensive than your average heating/cooling system. The main reason for this is the drilling of the wells or trenching that is required for the underground loop system used to gather and dissipate heat to and from the system. This expense alone is what makes the installation more expensive. The flip-side is that the loops system is permanent, with a 55 year warranty, and a life span of about 200 years.
There are also many great benefits you can receive with a geothermal heating and cooling system. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, you can now receive a federal tax credit worth 30% of the entire geothermal installation cost. Additionally, the state of Connecticut is currently offering rebates of up to $2,000 per heating ton for a geothermal system. CT Light and Power also has a $1,500 energy efficiency rebate. When you add all of these benefits up, along with very low annual operating cost, the geothermal option just looks better and better.
Our Conclusion
Our business at Custom Mechanical Services is heating and cooling. Our specialty is in geothermal heating and cooling. It is our mission to uphold the good name of geo-exchange technology for everybody. It is our belief that the geothermal heating and cooling solution deserves to grow beyond just the “go green” market and become accessible and affordable to the general public, not only to help save our planet, but also to save your hard earned cash. If you are interested in a high efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system, or have any other questions, please give us a call toll free at 1-88-TO GET GEO (1-888-643-8436) or fill out our contact form.
