Aug 28, 2008 1:17 pm US/Eastern
Mother Nature Helping Some Cut Energy Costs
NEW YORK (WBZ) ―
Jack Kouloheris is digging for buried treasure in his front yard. He's turning to Mother Nature to save money on his heating and cooling bills - with a home
geothermal system. "I'm excited to see it up and running and see how it works this winter."
It works on a simple principle: If you dig down a few feet, the earth is a constant 50 to 60 degrees. All you need to do is tap into that temperature.
After the holes are drilled, workers slide copper tubing 70 feet into the ground. When it's warm out, the pipes move heat out of the house and into the earth. When it's cold, the process reverses. It can reduce energy costs by up to 70 percent.
Contractors like Keith Bell of Bell Heating and Air Conditioning say business has never been better. "Demand is booming right now. With oil between $4 and $5 a gallon and winter looming ahead of us…"
The systems aren't cheap, but at today's fuel prices, the $30,000 to $50,000 installation can pay for itself in as little as seven years.
The units raise the value of the home and tax incentives can lower the final cost.
Kouloheris says there's one more benefit. "Certainly, I fell good about reducing the carbon footprint, but the main reason was saving money."
He said the decision was easy when he realized the cost of heating and cooling his home would become dirt cheap.
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