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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Geothermal Heat Pumps > Subject: Prelim payback research

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slenzenUser is Offline
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08/09/2007 11:41 AM  
I am doing some preliminary research for a new home in MN.  The payback numbers I have heard are all over the board for geothermal.  I plan a well insulated home icf/sip with passive solar on a south facing terraced lake lot.  I plan on having the home for several years.  I want to build smart and add features that justify themselves financially.

How do I start getting info to decide the feasibility of using geothermal system?

Is their currently any retrofit type systems that could be put in place in the future?  (assuming geothermal gets better cheaper in the future & higher energy costs) What planning would I need to do now to a new build to anticipate putting a system in the future or is the only time to install a system during the build phase?

Thanks.
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08/09/2007 6:45 PM  
Start by going to reputable installer of geothermal heating systems. Take the blueprints of the house you want to build and they can recommend different systems and show you the payback for each type of system.

There are different systems with different paybacks. One of the least expensive would be a system that extracts the heat from well water IF you have to have a well for water supply. This system can discharge into a pond or field tile. So, it saves the cost of drilling additional wells.

Almost any heating system can be replaced with a geothermal heat pump. But, you will still have to have a ground source of some sort which could mean digging up your established yard. You might also end up replacing and existing furnace and central AC system before it is due. To me, that would be a waste of money. You may be able offset the cost of heating with passive solar, but you may still want to air condition your house in the summer and geo is more energy efficient.

If it were myself, I would want to install the geothermal system at the time the house is constructed so it can be financed with the rest of the house and so that the entire digging mess gets done and over with. If your house is well insulated, geothermal shouldn't be as expensive to use as propane. The average cost improves if you intend to use AC in the Summer. Wood is cheaper if you have your own source of trees and do the labor. But, can you do the labor indefinitely? I plan to retire when I get old. I don't intend to chop wood.
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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Geothermal Heat Pumps > Prelim payback research


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