Why Geothermal

I saw my first geothermal installation back in the mid 1980’s while performing an energy audit for a Virginia Power customer near Lexington, VA.  This customer’s bills were very low, and during my 1 ½ hour drive to his home, I was wondering why his electric bills were so low.  Did he give me the wrong square footage for his home?  So after the audit and my first ever look at a geothermal heat pump, I asked him, why did you call us out here?  He kind-of stuck his chest out and said, “I just wanted to see how much I was saving so I can brag to my friends.” 

Later Virginia Power incorporated the geothermal heat pump in their energy efficiency programs, and we promoted the system in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia regions.  From those early days to today, where I now work for WaterFurnace International (a major manufacturer of geothermal heat pumps), I have met hundreds of satisfied homeowners who have a geothermal system.  What I am consistently told by these homeowners is 1) the system is more comfortable than the one I had or was used to, and 2) my energy bills are much lower.  When they tell me this it is nearly the same order every time.

I like to say I have met many people who spent big money on fancy cars and later regretted the purchase, but rarely meet people who spent the money for geothermal and had any regrets.

Geothermal heat pumps are good for the environment, and are the most efficient way to heat and cool a home, period.  The added hot water assist is icing on the cake, saving hundreds for heating domestic hot water while adding to the summer efficiency of the geothermal heat pump. Geothermal heat pumps last nearly twice as long as conventional systems, up to 24 years or even more.  They eliminate the noisy outdoor unit (those big units with the fan often spoil summer evening parties in the backyard).

Today, the Federal Government has backed the ideal with a very strong endorsement, a 30% tax credit on the total cost to install a geothermal system in your home.  Many states and electric utilities also kick in a few bucks too.  In Maryland, the state currently has a grant of $500 per ton of geothermal up to $2,000.  The Federal Tax Credit is good until 2016. 

This blog starts with the geothermal system I am installing in my own home.  Follow this blog as I plan for and then have my geothermal system installed.  This is a living and unfolding example, and this blog will report my travel on the road to and then with my new geothermal system as well as others.

For infromation on Federal, state and local geothermal incentives visit DSIREUSA.org.

Visit the WaterFurnace website for additional information about geothermal systems and products.