dcook4
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| 02/26/2008 9:27 PM |
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| If I was to use geothermal in an SIP house, what would be the best option for air exchange. |
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Coastal
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| 02/28/2008 3:59 PM |
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First question is why use geothermal in a SIPS house? We have guaranteed energy usage analysis on houses that probably puts the payback for going geothermal at far greater than the life expectancy of the unit. I'd explore other options. Go to energywisestructures.com and get their analysis to see if it's even in the ball park.
If you do the math, you probably have more than enough leakage in your window and door units to satisfy the guidelines without any extraordinary air exchange. Check it out with your window manufacturer. There are other reasons to ventilate, but code is not one of them. |
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Dick Mills
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Posts:128
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| 02/28/2008 4:27 PM |
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You should definitely run the numbers to see what your economic break even would be, or if it will occur at all. But a couple of things to remember are first, that the size of the ground-loop for a geothermal installation could be significantly smaller than for stick structures, so the initial cost of the geothermal could be correspondingly lower. The other thing to consider is that energy isn't getting any cheaper. Over the next 30 years you could see another doubling or more of the cost of energy. That should certainly be factored into the equation as well.
Dick Mills |
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dcook4
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Posts:17
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| 02/28/2008 5:40 PM |
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So what other options can you suggest, keep in mind please that I live in Manitoba which has Summer days as hot as 50C and winter days as cold as -50C. So a suitable furnace and AC is needed. Thanks
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congacox
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| 02/28/2008 10:36 PM |
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Just as a thought - what type of energy is practical in your area. Is electric cheap, oil heat, natural gas, propane? How large will your structure be, how many floors, basement? The more information you can provide helps to form an opinion.
2¢ - Steve |
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dcook4
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Posts:17
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| 02/29/2008 5:13 PM |
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| Manitoba has the best hydro in the world I would say, we actually sell it to other provinces. Anyways we would be building a 2,000 sq/ft house, 2 story with a basement. We will be building with SIP roof and walls. |
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