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lisa6801
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Posts:54
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| 03/01/2009 9:36 PM |
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I have researched and finally came to the conclusion that geothermal may be to expensive in my ase and on top of that I am now convinced that I would not get the pay back I though I would. My rational is if I go with ICF for basement then SIPs for walls and SIS for roof along with foam insulation - it will be a very good envelope. So with that said I am now looking at dual fuel Heat pump and narrowing down my choices to Lennox, Rudd and last Carrier. Lennox is also coming out with a SEER 15 that has a solar panel for the fan later this year as a ghee wiz.
Anyway I know to make sure that I am shown the J calculations and also I read somewhere in these forums that to ask what they use to determine the numbers--understand that Wrightsoft Right Suite is very $$$, and very good so "Joe smo" HAVAC guy would not be using it . This also can give you room by room H&C load cal's as well as total.
What should I prepare to give the HVAC bidders beside house plan, insulation, building material (SIP/ICF) type windows and doors? Any comments here?
I even looked at solar in a small way to try to use but it is still cost prohibitive to me here in VA. Even with the 30% tax rebate it is still way to high for my pockebook.
Has anyone thought ahead to wiring in for solar later if the prices comes down.
As always a great place to get info and meet super people.
Lisa |
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JeffD
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Posts:75
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| 03/09/2009 10:28 PM |
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| You would also let the bidders know which direction your house faces and type of window coverings (blinds and/or drapes) you intend to use. |
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Metal SIP Building Designer
jeff@panelfusion(dot com) |
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Road Block
Registered Users
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Posts:66
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| 03/13/2009 9:14 AM |
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| Did your cost analysis take into account the tax credit for geothermal? We're getting ready to build and were going with geothermal because we don't plan to move again and would be able to go through a longer payoff period. Now with the tax credit, I figure the payoff period is very small now. |
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lisa6801
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Posts:54
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| 03/13/2009 11:27 AM |
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Yes we included the tax credit. With what we have for money we prioritized.
First, the structure-if you can make a sound envelope that should be #1 as you can't go back and do it later.
Second, comes windows good ones and that is not cheap. Third, then we started trading off what we would have to give up inside to off set a geothermal system vice a good SEER rating (16) dual fuel H. pump. We also are leaning with on demand water heater.
We can definitely save initially without going with GEO, not because we want to but for the over all costs in trade offs in other areas. I guess the bottomline is we do not want to give up some of the other "upgrades" inside we plan on doing at the expense of a GEO system.
I am preparing for solar down the road to offset some of my electricity needs as I see panels coming down in price. Could we put GEO in -yes but at the expense of giving up a lot of other things and I do not want to slowly upgrade over the years as we save money to be able to afford.
Our age is a consideration not to old 60 husband, 54 wife but with a set income we want to enjoy our home once built and not have to wait and keep upgrading for the next XXX years to support the initial installation of GEO thermal. Now with that
said if we like so many others homeowners here on this forum can do, install part or all on their own then it is a lot more affordable and we most likely could afford it and our upgrades inside. But we physically cannot do much because of medical conditions and some of the upgrades encompass handicap support for the future.
Thanks to all who have commented so far
Lisa |
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Naudi2u
Registered Users
New Member
Posts:45
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| 03/15/2009 10:45 AM |
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Lisa
As to wiring for future solar just install a empty conduit and what ever is needed can be added at a later time. |
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Carlo
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