Geothermal Comfort System vs. Traditional Heating and Cooling The largest draw to a Geothermal system when compared to any traditional heating and cooling system is a potential savings of 55 – 65% on heating and cooling costs each month. These savings, when multiplied over 12 months, will add up to a significant yearly savings. This yearly savings will add up to the difference between a geothermal comfort system and any traditional system. In this section we will look at the two most common ways people compare geothermal heating and cooling and traditional heating and cooling: Cash Flow and Pay Back. Here’s an example of why a geothermal system is truly the least expensive system to own. Starting with a basic geothermal system investment, let’s look at the cash flow for each system. For example, for a customer living in Harford County replacing their existing HVAC unit with a 4 ton vertical unit: The cost for a conventional heating and cooling system, in a similar sized house, would be $8,500

Taking advantage of Ground Loops ‘no payments for 12 months’ (which will give us time to get back our Federal Rebate), we will finance the balance for 10 years at 6%. An average payment for this scenario would be roughly $200.00 per month. Let’s say a house of this size uses approximately $3,000 per year in total utility costs. Since HVAC costs typically account for 65 – 75% of a utility bill you could see an average savings of $150.00 per month. Therefore, after we pay $200.00 per month (and save $150.00 in utility costs), we have installed a brand new highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system for a net of $50.00 per month. Compare that to a conventional heating and cooling system, which when financed similarly, would cost you approximately $75.00 per month. These figures prove that a geothermal system does give you the most comfort, the most efficiency, and the quietest operation, for the least amount of money! Most people, when comparing geothermal, want to calculate a pay back.

So your $26,000 geothermal system minus rebates ($13,300.00 as per the calculation for a Harford County resident) is $12,700.00. The problem with calculating a pay back is that a geothermal system will retain almost 1/2 of its initial value, and a conventional system retains none. This means that on your $26,000 system almost $12,000 of that is retained in your underground loop which will last at least the next 3-4 replacements. So, apply $3,000 to each of the next 3 replacements, which will turn your $26,000 into a $17,000 system. how to hide wall ac unit(i.e. $26,000 – 12,000 + 3,000). portable ac units pricesApply the rebates, $13,300, and the Geothermal system only costs $3,700.00.cleaning air conditioner window unit The calculations above are not of an actual customer, and are an estimated cost, but they are very reasonable.

All homes vary in electric usage, size of system required, and amount of annual savings. Even though we cannot guarantee a specific amount of savings, a 60% decrease is a very realistic number. Also any tax rebates are specific to your individual system. It is recommended that any potential customer receive an energy audit to evaluate how “energy friendly” your home is, because no matter what type of system is installed, the best and most cost effective way to save energy is to keep your home tight and well insulated. The best way to evaluate your specific situation to is to contact a member of the Ground Loop team, and we can “crunch the numbers” just as we have done above. For other specific calculations of savings please see the geothermal savings calculator. This allows you to pick your residential area, type of heat/air conditioning you currently use, and how many residents live in your home. It will then show you the amount you would be saving by making the switch! We all know not only is geothermal heating and air conditioning better for the environment, but it also saves you a lot of money on your energy bill.

You can take a look at Water Furnaces’ Envision equipment here, which we recommend, since it has the highest efficiency rating of ANY geothermal unit. The operating costs are also the least expensive of any heating and cooling method. First and foremost your geothermal system also replaces the need for any oil, propane, or natural gas. The next area of savings comes from the longevity of your filters. A traditional system recommends replacement of filters once a month; a geothermal system is typically replaced once a year. Once you take a good look at geothermal it becomes clear; whether you look at the first month or the next 25 years, geothermal is without a doubt the most inexpensive heating and cooling system to install, operate, and maintain.Saving on Central Air Conditioning and Heating Bills - Air conditioners are responsible for the major part of most peoples electric bills during the summer months and heaters are responsible for a large part of the utility bills during the winter.

While they can be significant there are several simple things you can do to cut back on our bills. (See Also Saving Money on Utility Bills and Saving Money on Gasoline Costs) (See Also Saving Money on Utility Bills and Saving Money on Gasoline Costs) Potential for Savings - Air conditioners are responsible for the major part of most peoples electric bills during the summer months and heaters are responsible for a large part of the utility bills during the winter. While they can be significant there are several simple things you can do to cut back on our bills. 1) Maintain Your System - With the proper maintenance your air conditioning and heating equipment will work more economically and be dependable for years to come. For more information on self maintenance on your central air conditioner or heater click here. 2) Get a Tune Up - To keep your central air conditioner and heater working to its fullest potential occasionally you need a tune up. If you choose to skip regular maintenance you will find yourself paying for a major repair down the line.

If you skip your regular maintenance, you will cost yourself money and be inconvenienced in the long run. For maximum performance and long life have a professional perform needed maintenance on your air conditioner in the spring and your furnace or heat pump in the fall. For more information on professional maintenance on your central air conditioner and heater click here. 3) Have Refrigerant leaks repaired - Leaks in your system will lower its efficiency and will only get worse with time. Refrigerant is not a fuel source it is only a cooling medium and like the water in your radiator it should only need to be replaced if there is a leak. 4) Buy an Efficient Unit - On of the most important things to consider when purchasing a unit is the efficiency. Today the lowers efficiency unit you can buy is a 10.0 and high efficient units start at 12.0. Two speed units can run on low speed 80% of the time which allow them to get ratings as high as 16.0+ SEER. Most heaters are rated in AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.

5) Get a Programmable Thermostat - You should consider investing in a programmable thermostat especially if your house is empty for part of the day. This will allow you to set your unit to a more efficient temperature while you are gone and then have it drop back to a comfortable level thirty minutes before you are due to arrive home. Most thermostats can be set for a particular day of the week so you can bypass your program or change it on days when you are home like weekends. Buy a High Quality Digital Thermostats 6) Match the Indoor and Outdoor Units - If you have to change the outdoor air conditioning or condensing unit consider changing the indoor coil to match it. Ask your contractor if the indoor or evaporator coil is compatible or if it also needs to be changed. Mismatching a high efficient condensing unit with a low efficient indoor coil can not only cost you most if not all of the added efficiency but can also damage your compressor valves and cause your compressor to wear out much sooner than it normally would.

7) Adjust the Thermostat - Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees lower in the winter. Many experts agree that 78°F is a good starting point in order to save money. Every degree below 78°F that you set your thermostat for AC will increase your energy usage by around 8 percent. 8) Don't Humidify in the Summer - Don't use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating because it will force the air conditioner to work harder. 9) Properly Seal your Ducts - Have your ductwork checked to see if it needs any repairs or if it needs to be replaced. If some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold, if the insulation is peeling or if there is a buildup of contaminates inside consider having your ducts evaluated to see if they need replacing. Also return grilles and grills in each room should be evaluated to see if they are properly sized and working correctly. 10) Don't Run the Continuous Fan - As a rule it is a good idea to set your air conditioner fan setting to auto instead of on.

Air conditioners make very inefficient fans. Use a ceiling fan instead. 11) Consider Zoning your AC and Heating Unit - Many people can save energy from heating and cooling costs by using a zoned system. Zoned systems can be as simple as two heating and cooling systems, one for two different parts of the house such as one for upstairs and one for downstairs or they can be a bit more complex utilizing baffles and separate thermostats so that you can heat and cool only the areas you need. If you live in a two-story home and spend most of your time downstairs you should keep your downstairs air conditioning running and turn off the upstairs unit when not in use. At night while you are asleep you may find it is possible to reverse the process if the downstairs in unused. 12) Repair Air Leaks - You should have a professional examine your air conditioning unit and see if air is leaking out of it. Some experts report the average home leaks 30 percent of air that the AC and heating unit is putting out.