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Heat for Less: Search for ways to cut home-heating costs leads some to tap into earth's storehouse
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Published: November 1, 2008
We've spent weeks groaning over gas prices. But once temperatures really drop, will our talk turn to the cost of heating?
Probably so.
We talked to some energy experts about saving energy, both short-term and long-term.
No money need change hands for homeowners to save energy by turning the temperature in their water heaters down to 115 degrees and washing clothes in cold water.
The quickest, most economical way to keep your energy expenditures in check is to tune up your heating system: Change filters at recommended intervals and have a professional check your system to make sure it isn't burning excessive fuel.
As you spend more money, the savings can grow as well.
Programmable thermostats, which can range in price from $70 to $300, allow homeowners to keep the heat low during hours when they aren't at home or are asleep and to warm the house up when its owners are up and about.
"You can save 10 percent on heating and cooling by turning it back 10 to 15 degrees for at least eight hours a day," said Andy Thompson, a spokesman for Duke Energy.
David Trusty, a spokesman for Piedmont Natural Gas, said that the savings can be affected by extremes in weather and the amount of insulation in a house. "As it gets colder, you are going to be consuming more gas and electricity," he said.
In a house with no insulation, the savings accomplished by turning the thermostat down can be offset by heat that is lost through windows and doors. People can also turn their thermostats up and down manually, but the routine can be wearying.
A thermostat can also be programmed to have the house warmed up when people rise in the morning or come home at night.
Thinking long-term
People have to think about long-term savings when they get into some of the more costly "fixes" for high energy bills such as high-efficiency electric heat pumps and geothermal heating. The cost up front will be high, but the changes can mean substantial savings that will eventually allow the new systems to pay for themselves.
A recently-passed bill, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, includes tax credits for consumers who buy approved energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment. Certain Energy Star central heat pumps and air conditioners will qualify for as much as $300 in tax credits, and Energy Star geothermal systems can qualify for as much as $2,000 in tax credits.
Many people are "piggybacking" gas or oil furnaces with high-efficiency heat pumps, said Greg Carpenter of Knight Topline Services Inc., a heating-and-cooling company. The heat pump becomes the primary source of heat, and the gas or oil furnaces kick in when temperatures drop below a certain level.
"It's about three times as efficient down to 40 degrees," Carpenter said. But he finds that the best long-term alternative for saving on heat to be geothermal systems.
Geothermal heat is super-efficient and uses the heat of the earth. Earth stores the energy of the sun and stays at a constant temperature. According to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy use by 23 percent to 44 percent over electric heat pumps. They also have the lowest operating costs of all conventional heating technologies.
"It works basically like a heat pump," said Johnny Armstrong, the residential sales and installation manager at Logan Heating and Air. "Instead of using outdoor temperatures that range from 90 to 10 degrees, it uses the constant temperature of Mother Earth, which is 58 degrees." Geothermal heat pumps last about twice as long as electric heat pumps, with an average life expectancy of 20 years, compared to 12½ years, he said.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 400,000 geothermal heat pumps are now operating in the United States. Because of its high cost -- about $20,000 for a 2,500-square-foot house, at least twice the cost of a very high-efficiency electric heat pump -- geothermal heating still represents just a small part of the U.S. market.
Geothermal systems are essentially heat pumps that draw heat from beneath the ground. Regardless of the temperature above, the temperature 6 to 7 feet below the earth remains constant -- at 58 degrees in this area -- Carpenter said. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, ground temperatures can range from 45 degrees to 75 degrees, depending on latitude.
Geothermal heat pumps circulate liquid through pipes buried in the earth. In winter, they draw heat from the earth, and in summer, they dump hot air from houses into the cooler earth. Regular heat pumps work in a similar fashion, but they draw heat and cold from the air, where temperatures can vary widely. Conventional heat pumps need electric backups, which usually kick in when outside temperatures fall below about 40 degrees. The use of the backup heating adds to the cost of using the heat pump. On especially cold days, houses lose heat faster, and electric heat pumps will need to rely on their backup units more, adding to the operating costs.
Carpenter, who has been installing geothermal systems since the early '90s, has installed four times as many this year as last, he said. He installs one or two each week.
The system consists of an indoor unit that circulates the liquid through coils of pipes buried in the ground. Two pipes connect the coils to the indoor unit, which measures about 36 by 40 by 48. It can be installed in a basement, crawl space, attic or closet, Carpenter said, and it makes no more noise than a refrigerator.
The geothermal systems can be installed in existing homes as well as new construction. Installation will require digging up a portion of the yard.
Scott Whitaker and his wife, Kathy, installed a geothermal heat pump in March at their home in Wallburg. They replaced an electric air-conditioning system and a propane-heating system.
"So far, so good," he said. He hasn't yet been able to compare heating bills, he said, but he saw a big difference in his cooling bills in the summer. He also noticed that his house stayed cooler at a higher thermostat setting.
Before, he had to turn the thermostat to 68 or 69, he said. "With geothermal, we can easily set it at 73 or 74 and feel comfortable."
He did a good deal of research about heating and cooling systems because he fears that energy costs will rise precipitously in coming years. Geothermal heating requires a big initial investment, he said, but he expects a good return.
"I think it's going to be a good thing."
■ Janice Gaston can be reached at 727-7364 or at jgaston@wsjournal.com.
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