Ground Heat System Cools, Heat Home For $100/Year

Ground Heat System Cools, Heat Home For $100/Year ENERGY Earth Energy 29-2-14 When A.D. Baggerley, of Loyal, Wis. put up a new 1,600 sq. ft. home with a full basement in 1990, he took a chance and equipped it with a geothermal heating system. Now, 15 years later, he says it's one of the best decisions he ever made. The system consists of a heat pump that pulls heat out of water that runs through big loops of 3/4-in. black plastic pipe buried 10-ft. deep in his backyard. He buried four loops 1-ft. apart in a 75-ft. long trench. There are no plumbing connections outside the house. The tubes run to a manifold inside the house before running through the heat pump. Forced air moves heat through the house. His electric company gives them off-peak rates of 4 cents per kwh because they have a wood stove that acts as an alternate heat source if the company needs to shut off his power during peak hours. "The cost of the heat pump, installation, and ground loop was less than $6,000. The average cost to operate it for heat and air conditioning per year for the first 15 years was just $100 thanks also in part to added insulation. The unit's compressor failed after 12 years and cost $700 to replace. Otherwise, no problems." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, A.D. Baggerley, N10158 Park Lane, Loyal, Wis. 54446 (ph 715 255-8175).

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