Geothermal heating/cooling experiences

[NewJeffCT]

We moved across Connecticut last year from a town that primarily uses natural gas for heating, to a town that primarily uses heating oil for heating. My wife is having a heart attack over the price of heating oil, even though I told her last year that the lower taxes in our current town will be made up through the higher price to heat our home with oil vs natural gas.

Our home is a colonial style home and well insulated, less than 10 years old. But, I wanted to see if switching to geothermal would be a realistic option for us and if anybody has geothermal, knows somebody that has it, or has considered it. I know there is a 30% federal tax credit available for the next few years, but the state of Conn rebate program ran out of money last year.

And, even though our boiler is less than 10 years old and has been serviced regularly, it's not all that efficient overall. So, even putting in a new system that is more efficient would save money.

Thanks

(originally posted in the Lounge)

[MH1]

1. I have it and recommend it.

My case had the following points:

1) house didn't have A/C and traditional A/C would require upgrading the electric service
2) old furnace (gas) was due for replacement
3) I am involved in local environmental groups and a contractor was recommended to me by multiple people. He gave me a much better price than some of the larger outfits.
4) I took advantage of the 30% tax credit (I confirmed it is for equipment AND installation - sweet).

For me, it's a huge win. I have A/C now, and it's cheap, and it's quiet (unlike my friggin' neighbors, grr...). Heating is a little less clear a win. My bills are much lower, but I keep the house cooler, because I don't like for the "aux heat" to come on - that's regular electric heat for when the geo can't deal with it, and it's expensive to run that. I try to avoid having the aux heat come on. But my house is drafty. If I fix that, then the geo should do much better. I think the contractor sized the system on the assumption I would get an energy audit and fix all the leaks. Ha. I will get to that one of these days.

Overall, I highly recommend it, but realize it will take a few years to pay itself off. For comfort, get a system sized correctly for your house, and if you need to close drafts, don't be like me and keep putting it off.

From an environmental standpoint it is probably the best choice. Get an electric supplier that is 100% renewables and you can sleep with a clear conscience.

[TheMadMonk]

3. Start with those double sided door snakes.

Viewed end on, they look a bit like old 110/120 film cartridges.

Only a few bucks each.

If you have poorly fitted doors, draught stop tape is also cheap and easy to install. Just a bugger to paint around later.

If you have a separate computer room/office where you spend most of the time sitting in one spot, an electric micro-furnance under the desk might be the way to go. Or even just some ducting and an extra fan to put waste heat from compy to work before it head for the ceiling.

[MH1]

6. Thanks - good ideas

I did some weatherstripping around the door but I need to get the snakes.

I do use a small room heater for when I'm going to be sitting in one spot, like you said usually when I'm in the office.

Mostly I have poorly fitted windows. I do the plastic wrap thing once it gets cold enough and that helps. But I probably also have leaks I haven't even figured out yet.

[TheMadMonk]

8. How handy are you? Do your windows have simple frames,...

or recesses?

Do you have pelmets over the windows? Heavy curtains? Without, natural convection will be constantly moving your heated air across chilled glass.

Make frames that are snug internal fits for frames or window recesses and instead of plastic wrap use the same heavy vinyl that's used for weatherproof patio screens. (It may well be cheaper to buy the screens and cut the zippers off than purchase the material off the roll.)

And just thinking about that idea. Move the frames to the outside and permanently affix them to the walls. This time don't cut the zippers off, but instead sew matching zippers onto 90% shade cloth. A batten across the bottom will stop the wind geting underneath. Windproof in Winter, and screened for light and insects in Summer.

Also what floors do you have? If boards, then underfloor insulation is a must.

[NewJeffCT]

4. Thanks - good info

much appreciated

[Curmudgeoness]

2. It has been several years ago that I looked into it

and the cost was extreme. Hopefully, the prices have come down. When I did, I looked at how much I pay from my natural gas (I did not use heating oil, so that would possibly have given a different result). Then I looked at how long it would take me to recover my investment. I also had to look at interest rates for a home equity loan to do the geothermal. I didn't know if I would live long enough to be on the plus side. I decided that, at that time, it was not a good deal for me. I think that you really have to look at all the costs of both and determine what is best for you.

Of course, trying to determine what costs in the future will be is not really accurate, but you have to start somewhere.

[NewJeffCT]

5. thanks

This past week is an exception, but our winter has been pretty mild so far in Connecticut... and, we're probably going to spent a good $1,000 more to heat our house this winter with oil vs last year with gas. Both homes were about the same size and same age as well.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Heating oil is so expensive. It takes a lot of money

to heat with oil. You may do well in the comparisons to get geothermal. And it is better for the environment.

Good luck however you go.

[womanofthehills]

9. I live in a passive solar house

These are called Sun-Lite thermal storage tubes - the picture is off their website.


I have some of these water tubes in my south windows. They collect heat during the day and give it off at night and in the summer they cool the room. However, I live in NM where there is a lot of sun most of the time. I also have solar panels tied into the grid - I have no electric bill in the summer and a small one in the winter even using electric heaters.

[NewJeffCT]

10. I was thinking about doing something solar

Obviously, in Connecticut it would not work as well as in NM, and I don't think we could do passive solar like that.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Sure you can - do the passive solar thing

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I live in Northern Ontario, and have seen some passive solar simple as 45 gallon drums, painted black, in a greenhouse/sun room on the south side of a friends house where they grew veggies all year round, and except on the coldest days, kept the doors open to the interior of the house to grab the heat in those barrels.

I have a small greenhouse made of old thermal-panes that I can sit in in the winter at 20 below(Celsius) in my shirt sleeves(on a sunny day, mind you).

Google away - lots of passive solar ideas/systems out there