Geothermal Systems Save Costs and Energy
Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling Systems Work
Sep 1, 2009
Geothermal energy harnesses the sun’s rays for natural heating and cooling, says Dwayne Snider, owner of Regina Geothermal and Solar Inc. About 50 percent of the sun’s energy is absorbed by the earth, he says. In winter, geothermal systems transfer that energy through a ground loop system to a heat exchanger that heats a home or building. In summer, home cooling occurs as the process reverses, with heat transferred from the home or building back into the earth.
Geothermal Energy Systems Reduce Costs
Geothermal systems help reduce costs, and benefit the environment, he says. Energy efficient heating, air conditioning, and hot water in one geothermal system can help save $800-1200 a year in an average home, says this father of two. As well, it reduces maintenance time and effort by keeping the equipment within one company
It’s difficult to reduce an individual carbon footprint, Snider says. He estimates installing a geothermal system to be the equivalent of taking two mid-sized cars off the road each year.
As one of the top operators in the province, Regina Geothermal and Solar installs geothermal and solar energy systems as well as hot water exchangers. The company has installed just over 400 systems since opening its doors in 2001.
Energy Efficient Heating Saves the Environment
“It’s roughly the equivalent of taking 900 cars off the road,” Snider says. Its solar energy system installations save close to the same amount as well.
Regina Geothermal and Solar has become a leader in the industry by perfecting a system that can deliver close to 100 percent of the energy load required, while building codes require 70-100 percent. That means auxiliary heat only kicks in at minus-30 degrees, he adds.
Geothermal systems apply in commercial business, hotels and restaurants, as well as home cooling and heating. Renovations account for about fifty percent of his business.
“It’s got an application just about everywhere. We work on anything from a 1,000-square-foot farm home to a 13,000-sq-ft custom home.”
Customer Satisfaction by Immediate Payback
For Snider, the best part of the process is starting up a new system for the customer.
“For example, we started a combination system the other day. It was 30 degrees out, so it went right into air conditioning mode, and it cooled the house off instantly. The sun was shining so the solar thermal system was automatically starting to make free hot water,” he adds.
“So you’re taking advantage of both systems, and the customer is very excited and happy to see that their investment in the system has immediate payback."
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