Regardless of whether you’re raising a new home or upgrading your present abode, the choice to go with either a standard HVAC system or geothermal heating and cooling can be a tough one. It’s almost never the case that Alaska homeowners don’t grasp the positive aspects of geothermal. What’s not to like, after all, about a system that heats and cools your home naturally without fossil fuels and combustion, that has few mechanical parts, that demands little maintenance, that can keep on functioning efficiently for 30 to 50 years or more, and that can reduce energy bills by as much as 70 percent or more?
No, homeowners’ initial doubts about going geothermal frequently entail these five fears:
- Fear of High Up-Front Costs.
- Fear of “Too Little Too Late” Return on Investment.
- Fear That the Technology Remains “Unproven.”
- Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Best Alternative.
- Fear of Insufficient Dealer Support and Service.
Let’s look at these fears one at a time.
Fear of High Up-Front Costs. This isn’t entirely unreasonable; geothermal’s up-front costs are high, especially as they relate to the installation of ground loops. But given the life of a geothermal system – strikingly longer than the life of other kinds of heating and cooling systems, make no mistake! – installing geothermal is an investment in long-term energy efficiency and comfortable living. You’d replace a new boiler, for instance, at least once before you’d need to fix or replace any element of a geothermal system. In addition, with a conventional system, you’re paying for electricity from the grid or for oil to burn, and those costs are climbing all the time. Geothermal energy is renewable energy that saves you money in the short term and increases the resale value of your home in the long term.
Fear of “Too Little Too Late” Return on Investment. The return on investment in most geothermal systems is at least 10 percent. What this tells you is that, for each and every dollar you invest, you’ll save 10 percent a year for as long as you have your system. The savings will commence as soon as it’s online, too.
Fear That the Technology Is Still “Unproven.” As it stands, modern geothermal technology has proven itself many times over in countless installations here in Alaska, across the country, and around the world since first introduced in the late 1940s. Influences such as the increased demand for renewable energy and efficient, cost-effective space-conditioning systems have contributed to making the geothermal industry one of the fastest-growing in the 21st century. Clearly, shrinking numbers of homeowners are apprehensive about installing a geothermal system. They’re realizing that geothermal technology is far more efficient and reliable than standard high-efficiency gas furnaces and whole-house air conditioners.
Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling Might Not Be the Best Alternative. Financial considerations do indeed come into play here. You’d be best advised to compare renewable-energy technology with that using traditional energy sources and weigh the total costs and ROI of each. Should your home occupy enough land area to accommodate the ground loops, geothermal will likely present itself as the best alternative – for the reasons offered above.
Fear of Scarce Dealer Support and Service. We can quell this fear right here and now. Energy Efficiency Associates is a trusted Alaska geothermal dealer, installer, and service provider. We’ll work closely with you from the start, and we’ll be there to take care of your geothermal system’s every maintenance and service demand for as long as you own it.
In the final analysis, the only thing you ought to fear is not being able to enjoy all the comfort, efficiency, energy-bill savings, and tranquility a geothermal heating and cooling system provides. Contact the geothermal experts at Energy Efficiency Associates today!