How Much Does
Geothermal Cost?
Why is geothermal heating and cooling
higher?
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For geothermal, the cost of installation is
higher than it would be with other forms of energy. The exact figure, however, is something that
you’ll have to consult with a professional with to find out. Some systems can be very expensive and
others can be surprisingly affordable. There will be some differences depending upon where you
live, how much of an underground loop you have to run and so forth. Of course, if you’re simply
adding a new pump or other hardware to an existing loop, the costs will be considerably lower.
Why is It
Higher?
Geothermal costs are usually
higher because of the ground loop installation. Simply put, this isn’t required with other forms
of heating and cooling. The loop, however, happens to be the strength of geothermal
energy.
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While it may cost a little bit more to install that ground loop initially, it tends
to pay for itself in relatively short order, which is the reason that people go ahead and deal with the cost of
installation for geothermal energy.
One of the reasons that the geothermal cost
of installation is, in practice, actually lower is because of the longevity of the systems. When measured
against other forms of heating and cooling, geothermal systems tend to have a longer lifespan. This means that
the actual cost that you pay for the installation is distributed over a longer service life and, of course, that
works out to less money paid for the system on the whole.
How Much Does Geothermal Cost Compared to Other Systems?
The actual cost of geothermal, beyond the
cost of installation, will depend upon several factors. The same things that apply to the cost of any heating
and cooling system will apply, such as how well your house is insulated and how modern the system of heat
distribution you use happens to be. Most often, however, Homeowners will find that the geothermal cost of
installation is quickly justified by the amount of savings they have in terms of reduced energy bills. Provided
that your house is in good condition, you have a modern system and you are heating or cooling a reasonably sized
area, you can count on vastly reduced bills compared to what you would pay for other forms of heating and
cooling.
When you're asking yourself how much geothermal heating and cooling costs, you have to take into account the
environmental costs, as well. Geothermal heating and cooling consumes no fossil fuels and it uses energy that is
already present in the earth. What you are actually using, in part, is solar energy that is stored in the earth
itself. This energy has already been generated and would simply go to waste if it wasn't tapped. While the actual
cost of fossil fuels is usually not factored into their price, at least where environmental damage is concerned,
the environmental friendliness of geothermal heating and cooling actually comes with the benefit of having a lower
cost overall and of having no hidden costs in terms of damage it does to the environment, which can give you a
great deal of peace of mind.
by - Phillip Rye
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Are you building a home and looking for a custom, passive solar house plan? Visit my
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