starksb
Registered Users
Posts:1
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| 04/15/2008 1:48 PM |
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| I am building a new ICF home in Michigan. It will be 2092 sq ft on the first floor and a basement the same size. I think it will cost about $10,000 more to have a Geothermal system. Plus I will have to use propane. Will I get the pay back or not by going with Geothermal. About how long with it take to get the pay back? Please let me know what you think.
Thanks
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Buntly
Registered Users
Posts:95
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| 04/15/2008 2:23 PM |
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A few years ago I did a 2400 square foot icf ranch. It has a 8' basement and 10' first floor with cathedral clgs and real dormers. (quite a bit of loss thru the dormers). This house had a closed loop geo system. Everything in the house is electric. His highest bill last year was 145.00. This house is located in Michigan. He does have the separate geo electric meter. 4 people in his family. It is difficult to predict what the cost of propane and electric will be in future, but I think electric price will be more stable over time. I currently live in an icf home with natural gas. I will be building another new home for myself in the very near future. My only options are geo or propane. I am going with geo.
Bunt |
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icf4life
Registered Users
Posts:5
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| 04/16/2008 11:43 AM |
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| We are an ICF installer that covers Michigan. On homes that we have done in the past we worked with a geo guy who I know did not need a gas back up. I obviously don't know your situation as far as whether you would have a horizontal or vertical system but I think there price was a little closer than that to a traditional system.Feel free to contact them if you would like I am sure they can explain it better than me. Jon-Superior Const-906-360-1706 |
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vhehn
Registered Users
Posts:104
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| 04/16/2008 1:24 PM |
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| you will probably never see a payback. its overkill to go both icf and geo given the cost. the icf performance will send the geo payback into infinity. |
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dmaceld
Registered Users
Posts:494
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| 04/16/2008 10:17 PM |
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Take a look at the Daikin heat pump system. It's air to air but puts out heat with a COP of about 3 down to 10°F. Only heat pump system I have found that will put out heat at that low air temp. That's what I'm planning on using in the ICF house I'm building now.
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Building house - what a way to spend retirement! |
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wes
Registered Users
Posts:376
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| 04/16/2008 10:25 PM |
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Check out the Acadia system from Hallowell International.
www.gotohallowell.com
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Wes Shelby
Design Systems Group
Murray KY
wandr@ainweb.net |
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chirgfrog
Registered Users
Posts:2
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| 04/17/2008 12:53 PM |
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| As an icf builder in Michigan for many years, there was a time in the not so distant past that it was hard to justify the bump to install. In your case, you have used $,10,000. Fuel costs are ony going to rise. Geothermal has become a no brainer. Geo systems provide a 4 to 1 return. For every dollar of electricity purchased, you will receive four dollars worth of heat and or a/c. These systmes also provide many options such as radiant, forced air with a/c, domestic hot water and in certain applications, all of the items mentioned with one unit. Geo systems using a closed loop are nearly maintenance free over their life. Most fossil fuel systems require ongoing maintenance after five years with equipment replacement after 15 years. The loop in most closed systems has a life of 50 years. Please keep in mind that a geo has three main parts - duct work, mechanical equipment (the unit) and your loop. Duct work on most any system will last the life of the home. With that said, sixty percent of your investment will last fifty plus years. A conventional hvac system will have a fifty percent replacement in fifteen years. I know of no other system that more economically uses the earth's natural resources better for domestic comfort. |
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vhehn
Registered Users
Posts:104
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| 04/17/2008 1:30 PM |
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| lots of speculation there. price of fuel and the biggie maintainence of a geo system. i have read about some pretty big maintainence bills on geo systems right on these threads. |
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slenzen
Registered Users
Posts:163
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| 04/17/2008 6:09 PM |
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| No matter the comparisons the opportunity cost of capital comes into play. Who wants to put any extra money into something that doesn't generate a return higher than elsewhere? |
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robinnc
Registered Users
Posts:115
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| 04/18/2008 12:57 AM |
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I believe in both systems but I think it really comes down to your age and if this house is your 'last' house??
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albanelli
Registered Users
Posts:6
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| 04/18/2008 6:45 AM |
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| We did two houses two years ago about the same size 3600 sf one natural gas, one geothermal in February the natural gas house used approximately 120.00 geothermal about 40.00. we are still getting all the data together but what we have noticed is icf houses save about fifty percent on heat and cooling and about the same gain by adding geothermal. both houses in south east Michigan feel free to contact me for more information. |
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