Geothermal or Solar: Why not Both?
So you want to go green and save money on utilities while doing it, but what is the best alternative energy solution for you. A housing community in Colchester, Conn. has decided to install both solar panels and geothermal heat pump systems to almost eliminate utility bills entirely.
The White Oaks Farm community features 134 lots and each newly constructed home will feature both a geothermal heat pump system and solar panels. The geothermal systems will eliminate the need for a traditional furnace or air conditioning unit and the addition of solar panels makes the operating cost almost zero. Geothermal heat pumps are 400% efficient and require no natural gas or fossil fuels to run. Traditionally, the geothermal heat pump requires electricity to run, but by utilizing solar electric, running the heat pump is free.
Since the homes are all newly built they include extra insulation and high quality windows resulting in extremely tight construction. With the tight construction, geothermal heat pump, and solar panels the White Oak Farm homes cost only $500 a year in utility bills for a 2,400 square foot home according to builder Ron Gaudet.
The first buyer, Mihir Patel, has been experiencing the extremely low utility bills promised by the geothermal heat pump and solar panels. During the summer, his utility bills are only $30-$60 dollars a month and in the winter they remain below $200 per month—and only $70 is used for heating, the higher bills come from the lack of sunlight during the winter months.
So while geothermal heat pumps are the best alternative heating and cooling solution, if you want to go even more green and save even more, the addition of solar electric can run your geothermal heat pump for free!
Do you already have a geothermal heat pump installed? Do you know someone who does? Enter the "Free Heat Beneath Your Feet" Sweepstakes for your chance to win free electric this winter! Calculate a Ball Park geothermal heat pump cost.
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