Are You Ready to Convert Your Home to Geothermal?

Making the leap from one type of home heating system to another is a huge decision. As much as we hate our fuel & energy bills, sometimes, it’s better, the devil you know. Remaining with propane, gas, or electric heating is relatively predictable, as are the high monthly bills. Still, you can’t help but wonder if making the switch to geothermal might be a better option.

Here are a few reasons to make the switch to geothermal:

1. Your electricity bills are too high – Despite Ontario producing plenty of electricity, our energy bills are outrageous. They’re so high; we modify our behaviour- adding an extra blanket at night and running the laundry & dishwasher after 11 pm. Whether it’s electric heating, or air conditioning, whatever we do, it rarely seems to make a dent; and don’t get us started on delivery charges, especially in rural locations. For those on propane, that fuel cost has skyrocketed over the last year or so and is unlikely to drop much. Geothermal heating & cooling, on the other hand, can help you save as much as 70% off your heating & cooling costs.

2. You need a new system anyway – If your existing HVAC system is on its last legs, now is the time to start exploring other options. Don’t wait for it to break down to investigate alternatives. Use this time wisely to learn more about geothermal energy for your home and how it can benefit you. While a geothermal system may cost more upfront, you’ll save over time. In addition, a geothermal system offers both heating & cooling, so you won’t need to replace your AC separately. In fact, geothermal can also handle your hot water heating, both inside the house and in your outdoor pool. To help make it easier to switch, the government is offering interest-free loans of up to $40,000 through the Canada Greener Homes Loan Program.

3. You want to reduce your carbon footprint – A geothermal heat pump is the most energy-efficient method of heating and cooling your home. Utilizing a completely renewable energy source (radiant solar energy), a geothermal unit has an environmental impact comparable to planting 750 trees. According to the S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, geothermal heat pumps are, on average, 65% more efficient than conventional HVAC systems. Because geothermal systems transfer heat from the earth, rather than generating heat, they will always be more efficient than traditional fossil-fuel burning systems.

Geothermal energy is growing fast throughout the world, especially in countries like the Philippines, Iceland and Indonesia. Approximately 100,000 systems are installed in the United States each year. Here in Canada, we have approximately 100,000 systems total, but the rate is increasing quickly. In Saskatchewan, Canada’s first geothermal power plant is currently under construction. It is expected to “power about 5,000 homes and offset 27,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.”

To learn more about geothermal heating and how it might benefit your home, reach out. Atel Air is Eastern Ontario’s most experienced geothermal installer, having installed over 600 geothermal systems since 1984.