Locke, NY
Square Footage: 3,200 sq ft (1,600 first floor, 1,600 basement)
Year Built: 2003
Concerned about the high cost of heating their house with propane, as well as the importance of dealing with climate change, the homeowners switched to a ground source heat pump (geothermal energy) to heat and cool their home, and added solar photovoltaic electricity. The homeowners are pleased with the outcome, remarking that: “We have largely eliminated utility bills, the heating is astonishingly comfortable and we feel good about not relying on fossil fuels.”
Installation and Energy Details
Prior Energy system: Propane-fired boiler with hydronic in-floor heating and baseboard hot water heating. No air conditioning. Propane hot water heater.
New Energy System: Ground source heat pump (GSHP) for heating and cooling.
New Insulation or Sealing: Increased insulation in ceilings from R-38 (12 inches of fiberglass) to R-60 using blown-in cellulose. Spray foam added to basement rim joists for air sealing.
System Specifications:
- EarthLink Geothermal System (Direct Exchange System) with four ton capacity; approximately ½ acre horizontal loop containing 1,000 feet of tubing. Installed by Halco in 2014.
- Hydronic in-floor heating with one fan coil unit for cooling in living room.
- Solar: 15 kW roof-top array installed in 2014.
Net Zero? Yes, for 2014-2017. Shortfall in 2018-2019, apparently due to a significant drop in solar output due to more cloud cover than previous years.
Results
- The homeowners are pleased with the outcome because they have nearly eliminated their utility bills. The typical monthly bill is just $16.90 for the NYSEG line fee, unless there is a shortfall in banked electricity in February/March (as happened in 2019).
- Home is very comfortable because of the in-floor heating and because number of heating zones was increased.
- The homeowners hope to have minimal utility bills in retirement. They recognize that when roof replacement is warranted, they will have to remove the solar panels to access the roof.
- They have concern about occasional power outages, but are successfully “banking” excess solar electricity with NYSEG.
- Financing: Self-financed after one year. While awaiting incentives and tax credits two loans were taken. Geothermal: $25,000 through Energy Star; $178.60/month, 3.49%, paid off in one year. Solar: $18,000 through EnerBank USA; no interest less than one year (would have gone to 16.83%).
Motivation for Heat Pump Technology
- High cost and price volatility of heating with propane.
- Availability of state rebate and federal tax incentives.
- Concern about climate change.
- Comfort was a consideration. The heat pump enabled the homeowners to add more heat zones in the in-floor heat system, and to have air conditioning.
Expenses
| Cost Category | Initial Cost | Incentives | Final Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Source Heat Pump | $45,027 | NYSERDA rebate: $690 30% federal tax credit: $13,508 | $30,829 |
| Heat Pump Water Heater | $3,180 | Federal tax credit: $954 | $2,226 |
| Insulation and Air Sealing | $4,767 | Federal tax credit: $1,430 | $3,337 |
| Solar PV system | $58,350 | NYSERDA rebate: $15,120 30% federal tax credit: $12,969 25% NYS tax credit: $5,000 | $25,261 |
| Grand Total | $111,324 | $49,671 (45% of total) | $61,653 |