Using Geothermal in Your Home
Two homeowners think they have found a way to beat Big Oil. Joe Comerford and Lynne Kudzy are heating their 50 yr old house on Sawmill Road in North Stamford with a geothermal system they said will safeguard them against a volatile oil market.
"It's a pocketbook issue. It's a house with a big footprint so we were a captive to oil heat," Comerford said of the four-bedroom, 31Ú2-bath house that measures more than 3,000 square feet.
Comerford and Kudzy, who had their geothermal system installed early last year, still use oil to heat their water but plan to connect that to their geothermal system. The technology uses an environmentally friendly refrigerant that promotes heat transfer. Water vapor is compressed by being circulated through electric heat pumps in the basement to create warm air in the winter. The compression is decreased in summer to create cool air. The home did not have a central air conditioner, so they installed a unit andductwork so it was in place for the geothermal system.
"You get central air with geothermal. If you have central air, no ductwork needs to be installed, and the cost will be lower," Comerford said.
The geothermal system was installed for $40,000.
"The entire thing was done on our nickel," he said.
That's because there is little financial assistance in Connecticut for geothermal installations. Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating Co. offer a small incentive for geothermal energy, up to $3,000 per site. The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund does not have funds for geothermal energy, said David Goldberg, manager of strategic initiatives.
"In the past six months, we've been looking into the benefits of ground source heat pumps," Goldberg said. "The one thing that the report indicates is an overall increase in consuming electricity. You have an electric motor for the heat pump."
Since geothermal reduces reliance on heating oil, the fund is determining the benefits of the technology. State Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford, who plans to visit Comerford and Kudzy's house, is a member of the General Assembly's Energy Committee and helped draft the energy reform bill passed in 2007.
"One of the challenges, given the state's finances, is maintaining those rebate and incentive programs," Tong said. "The governor needs to make them a priority. I'm going to push on the Energy Committee for funding energy assistance programs."
Geothermal was part of the Stamford Energy Future Expo that Tong hosted in May at city hall. The event was supported by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, CL&P and Mayor Dannel Malloy's office. Tong is planning a similar event next year and wants Comerford to be a speaker.
"I hope Joe spreads the gospel," Tong said.
Comerford and Kudzy did their homework before beginning the project, settling on a system manufactured by Earth to Air Systems LLC in Franklin, Tenn. The results have been dramatic, because the system cuts oil and electricity costs, Kudzy said.
"It's amazing. It cools so much more rapidly and quietly," she said, adding that the system saves money heating and cooling the house. "Operating costs are incredibly less with much lower electric bills. The average house around here will pay $6,000 for oil."
Although the price of crude oil has dropped in the past few weeks, Comerford said they made the right decision.
"We did our (return on investment) calculations when oil was about $2.25 a gallon. We figured the payback would be eight years or less. Oil is bad now, but it could be worse. The oil world is unstable," Comerford said.
He said he expects to connect the geothermal system to his hot water tank soon, eliminating the need for oil. "It's the best big-scale investment you can make to reduce a carbon footprint." Comerford, who told his neighbors about his project at a Sawmill Association neighborhood meeting in June, said they were intrigued.
"People are extremely concerned about what it's going to cost to heat this winter," he said. "We're confident that it will be good for resale."
Eric Morson, president of the Sawmill Association, was impressed by what he heard, but the expense gives him second thoughts. "It's a $30,000 expense, and the payback is long. I have two kids to put through school," Morson said. "Oil has retreated, but it's still above $4 a gallon. It's a tough call. It would be a kick to see the electric meter go backward."
Installing the geothermal system took about three months and required drilling two 300 foot deep holes to draw 55-degree water to the surface, Comerford said. Comerford and Kudzy used Advanced Air Solutions in Harrisburg, Pa., to install the system. Deregulation of electrical rates in Connecticut and New York has created a demand for geothermal installations, and more companies are getting involved in the industry, said Sam Pollak, project manager at Advanced Air.
"There are three or four companies in the Northeast now. About three years ago, there was only one," Pollack said.
Geothermal has a bright future, said Don Gary of Weston, who owns Geothermal Technologies LLC with his son, Robert Gary, and Michael McGrath.
"We're working on a project in Weston and have four waiting," Don Gary said.
As owner of Hybrid Homes, predecessor of Geothermal Technologies, Robert Gary learned about installing geothermal systems, Don Gary said. Geothermal Technologies also is a distributor of Earth to Air Systems. Several months ago, the trio installed a geothermal system for a model home at Windemere, a development in North Stamford, and expects to install more as the houses are sold.