RON58
ArboristSite Operative
Any of you have it or know anything about it at your homes? Pro's/Con's ?????
Any of you have it or know anything about it at your homes? Pro's/Con's ?????
Well, I do live in the middle of a triangle of 3 volcanos, maybe something on a bigger scale would work here.
Geothermal works on the principle that once you get to a certain point below ground (it varies a bit depending on the region of the country you're in) the soil is a constant 55 degrees F all year round.
So essentially if it's 35 degrees outside, you want to try to pull 20 degrees of the 55 degrees of heat energy in the ground out and into your house.
So it won't work in permafrost? :jawdrop:
(Not a serious question.)
My friend in Sweden is building a new house this summer, and he says it is most cost effective for him today to put money into insulation....18+2" in ceiling, 10+2" in floor, 8+2" in walls, vented crawl space in foundation, a plastic moist barrier in the walls, floor and ceiling, the 2" part of insulation inside the moist barrieer, 2 or 3?? glass xenon windows...then a two way electric ventilation system (no heat pump) and then electric waterheater with water radiator heating.....
with his 6 months winters plus 32F to minus 32F his electric bill will be less than 20000 kWh. his new house will be a one story 2500ft^2 plus garage...
His last house, 2 story 3000ft^2, he built at 1980 had a woodburner 5-8 cords a years, 80ft culvert to house, and still 15000kwh. That house had only 65% of this new house insulation
Last 25 years everybody have used heatpumps, earth and geo thermal systems, but now this is (insulation) what is most economical....
Pros with insulation....no maintenance, dont have to be replaced after 10-15 years like a heatpump.....
Correct...It is hard to understand, and the Fahrenheit temp scale doesnt make it easier....It doesn't matter what the temperature is outside, really.
I just completed an energy auditing couse and alot can be done with new and old homes to air seal and insulate. Build smaller homes and build them right and energy becomes much less of an issure. In new construction, I would be looking very hard at passive solar if you have the right land for it.
I am not downplaying geothermal, it is taking off here right now and there are some numbers to back it up. I met a guy that used it today and he has the drilled well type. When you factor in the fact that this style supplies you potable water, eliminates the need for a conventional furnace and is a 30% direct write off on your taxes.......it looks pretty sweet to the right people.
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