Skaneateles, NY
Square Footage: 1,900
Year Built: 1861
Annual Energy Cost: $827/year
Steve and Stacy contacted two geothermal contractors to get quotes and opted to move forward with ACES Energy, one of HeatSmart CNY’s selected installers. They opted to use their large yard space to use a horizontal loop field as a heat source and sink for their geothermal system, which would save money on the installation cost. Additionally, they took advantage of the opportunity to improve the insulation of their home and further increase savings and comfort by blowing cellulose insulation into leaky walls and adding insulation and air sealing to crawlspace walls and rim joists.
Once under way, the project took only a week to complete, even with the town engineer unexpectedly requiring that additional precautions be taken during the excavation process to protect the Skaneateles Lake watershed. Steve and Stacy reseeded and regraded the yard after the installation was complete in September 2019, though no additional landscaping work has been needed since.
Steve and Stacy are pleased with their investment: in their first year, they saved over $2,600 in energy bills and reduced their yearly carbon footprint by nearly 7 tons. They will also consider installing solar in the future to further reduce energy costs and emissions. The new system and ductwork and improved insulation have made them more comfortable year-round: “We have yet to bring out the heavy comforters we used previously. Our living room has several windows that create a greenhouse effect on sunny days, and the cooling has made it extremely comfortable even on the hottest days.”
Installation and Energy Details
Prior Energy system: Propane-fired furnace, propane storage water heater, window air conditioners
New Energy System: Ground Source heat pump (GSHP) for heating/cooling and heat pump hot water heater (HPWH). Installed by ACES Energy.
New Insulation or Sealing: Blown-in cellulose insulation, crawlspace and rim joist insulation and air sealing
System Specifications:
- Waterfurnace 5-ton water-to-air geothermal heat pump for space heating and cooling (7 Series) and 2-ton water-to-water geothermal heat pump for domestic hot water (5 Series).
- horizontal ground loop (3 trenches approx. 275 feet each).
- New forced air ductwork.
Results
Motivation for Heat Pump Technology
Expenses
| Cost Category | Initial Cost | Incentives | Final Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Source Heat Pump | $42,000 | NYSERDA incentive: $10,050 30% federal tax credit: $9,285 | $21,665 |
| Grand Total | $42,000 | $10,050 (24% of total) | $21,665 |
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