Whether you’re raising a new home or updating your present abode, the choice to install either a common HVAC system or geothermal heating and cooling can be a hard one. It’s rarely the case that The Hudson Valley homeowners don’t recognize the advantages of geothermal. What’s to dislike, after all, about a technology that heats and cools your home naturally without fossil fuels and combustion, that has hardly any mechanical parts, that needs little maintenance, that can keep on functioning efficiently for 30 to 50 years or better, and that can reduce energy bills by as much as 70 percent or more?
No, homeowners’ initial objections to going geothermal often involve 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 May Not Be the Proper Alternative.
- Fear of Meager Dealer Support and Service.
Let’s examine these fears one by one.
Fear of High Up-Front Costs. This isn’t competely unfounded; 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 typical heating and cooling systems, to be sure! – 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 be obliged to fix or replace any part of a geothermal system. In addition, with an ordinary system, you’re paying for electricity from the grid or for oil to burn, and those expenditures are mounting 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 indicates is that, for every dollar you invest, you’ll save 10 percent yearly 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 Still “Unproven.” Beyond any doubt, modern geothermal technology has proven itself repeatedly in numerous installations here in The Hudson Valley, across the continent, and around the globe since first introduced in the late 1940s. Influences such as the rising 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 have qualms] about opting for a geothermal system. They’re finding geothermal technology far more efficient and reliable than standard high-efficiency gas furnaces and whole-house air conditioners.
Fear That Geothermal Heating and Cooling May Not Be the Best Alternative. Financial considerations do indeed come into play here. You’ll have to compare renewable-energy technology with that using traditional energy sources and assess the comprehensive costs and ROI of each. Should your home be situated on enough land area to accommodate the ground loops, geothermal will likely prove the most viable alternative – for the reasons offered above.
Fear of Inadequate Dealer Support and Service. We can put this fear to rest right here and now. Verdae Geothermal is a respected The Hudson Valley geothermal dealer, installer, and service provider. We’ll work hand in hand with you from the get-go, and we’ll be there to handle your geothermal system’s every maintenance and service requirement for as long as you own it.
The only thing you really need fear is losing out on all the comfort, efficiency, energy-bill savings, and serenity a geothermal heating and cooling system provides. Contact the geothermal experts at Verdae Geothermal today!