An Evanston couple says their new geothermal heat system is keeping their winter utility bills as low as $100 a month.
Rebecca and Arthur Cacayuran are the focus of a full-page feature in today’s Chicago Tribune on geothermal heating. They say the system in their townhouse in the new Church Street Village development makes it easy to save on energy while staying comfortable.
But supporters of the approach admit the initial installation cost for the geothermal heat pump systems can be as much as four times what a traditional furnace would cost.
Original story
Geothermal heating
It’s true that a geothermal furnace is more expensive than a traditional gas furnace (for now). But it costs LESS to live in a home with geothermal heat and air conditioning.
Why? The additional expense of $10,000 to $15,000 for the geothermal furnace is added to the mortgage at a rate of about $5.50 per thousand – adding about $60 or $80 to your monthly mortgage payment. BUT – you’re utility bills will be $100 to $150 LESS each month.
So the reality is you will be SAVING money every month.
Geothermal is cheaper! Those are the facts.
Geothermal
“Why? The additional expense of $10,000 to $15,000 for the geothermal furnace is added to the mortgage at a rate of about $5.50 per thousand – adding about $60 or $80 to your monthly mortgage payment.”
I am always pleased to see discussions of NPV on EvanstonNow.
Tad’s logic would be correct- subject to assumptions about the cost of heating in the future and maintenance costs of the different types of furnaces.
Many of us do not intend to stay in our homes forever. (I know…many of you are proud of the fact that you have spent the last 40 years in the 60201 or 60201 ZIP code..but not all of us will.)
If the cost of installing the furnace is not recouped when selling the house, the situation might be different.