Whether you’re erecting a new home or upgrading your current abode, the choice to equip it with either a standard HVAC system or geothermal heating and cooling can be a hard one. It’s hardly ever the case that Pine County residents don’t recognize the advantages of geothermal. What’s not to be thrilled with, after all, about a system that heats and cools your home naturally without fossil fuels and combustion, that has only a handful of mechanical parts, that needs little maintenance, that can keep on functioning efficiently for 30 to 50 years or better, and that can slash energy bills by as much as 70 percent or more?
No, homeowners’ initial concerns about going geothermal often have to do with these five fears:
- Fear of High Up-Front Costs.
- Fear of “Too Little Too Late” Return on Investment.
- Fear That the Technology Is Still “Unproven.”
- Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling Might Not Be the Right Alternative.
- Fear of Sparse Dealer Support and Service.
Let’s study these fears one by one.
Fear of High Up-Front Costs. This isn’t entirely without merit; geothermal’s up-front costs are high, especially where the installation of ground loops is concerned. But given the life of a geothermal system – far longer than the life of conventional 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 example, at least once before you’d find it necessary to overhaul or replace any part of a geothermal system. Beyond that, with an ordinary system, you’re paying for electricity from the grid or for oil to burn, and those prices are spiraling upwards all the time. Geothermal energy is renewable energy that saves you money in the short term and boosts 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 says is that, for each dollar you invest, you’ll save 10 percent a year for as long as you keep your system. The savings will begin as soon as it’s up and running, too.
Fear That the Technology Is As Yet “Unproven.” As it stands, modern geothermal technology has proven itself time and again in countless installations here in Pine County, across the country, and around the world since first introduced in the late 1940s. Situations such as the ever-growing 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. Obviously, fewer and fewer homeowners are uneasy about choosing a geothermal system. They’re discovering that geothermal technology is vastly more efficient and trustworthy than standard high-efficiency gas furnaces and whole-house air conditioners.
Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Right 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 appraise the comprehensive costs and ROI of each. If your home is situated on enough land area to accommodate the ground loops, geothermal will no doubt prove the most viable alternative – for the reasons given above.
Fear of Limited Dealer Support and Service. We can quash this fear right here and now. Willow River Geothermal is a highly regarded Pine County geothermal dealer, installer, and service provider. We’ll work closely with you from the start, and we’ll be there to cover your geothermal system’s every maintenance and service need for as long as you own it.
In the final analysis, the only thing you should really fear is losing out on all the comfort, efficiency, energy-bill savings, and peace of mind a geothermal heating and cooling system provides. Contact the geothermal experts at Willow River Geothermal today!