On Sep 26, 4:28*pm, dpb wrote:
On 9/26/2012 2:37 PM, Frank wrote:
...

... I'm saying I
would not consider paying more for the house with this option.

Methinks that's short-sighted attitude; things are different w/ energy
costs these days and are likely to only get more so.

It's probably not a huge difference either way; the incremental cost of
installation (assuming ground loop) is generally much less if it was
part of new construction vis a vis a retrofit as our was since the dirt
work can in all likelihood be accomplished in conjunction w/
foundation/basement/etc. rather than necessitating a separate
exacavation period. *Other than that, there's very little difference
between the systems and the ground loop is in many ways simpler as the
reject heat side is simply one small circ pump...

It's a feature in my book and suspect it's getting to be more so
generically all the time and will only become even more of a feature w/
time...

--


I generally agree that a geothermal system is probably an
advantage to a house. But it also would depend on where
the house is located climate wise and the cost of electricity
there versus alternate fuels. Here in NJ with electric at 18c
it may not look as good compared to nat gas as someplace
where it's 10c.

And the age of the system and the replacement cost. I know
a lot of the big cost is the outside part, but I wonder how much
replacement of just the inside heat pump part costs as compared
to replacing a gas furnace/AC unit?