Geothermal heating and cooling systems utilize energy stored in the ground to provide electrical power to a building. Typically, wells are drilled beneath an existing building's foundations or prior to pouring a new building's. The wells tap into the hot rocks beneath the earth's surface and basically, hot air flows down into the wells to cool the building and flows upwards from the ground to heat the property.
Homes heated and cooled with geothermal energy use no gas and, in this climate, will lower electrical needs by up to half. Downside: installation costs can run up to three times that of conventional heating and cooling systems.
Last year, I interviewed developer Larry Ladomer, who worked with Southwest Detroit Business Association on their sublime restoration of the Oddfellows Hall on W. Vernor. He was at that time, dealing with the realities of the system, including the fact that it was still pretty much uncharted territory in this area. Learning curve issues abounded. But he was optimistic.
He estimated payback on the installation in six years or less due to rising energy costs and said, "You have to ask yourself, am I going to build for now, or build for the future?"
Now that the building has been occupied since September, Ladomer is even more certain of geothermal's promise. He remembers giving the third floor tenant their first utility bill. "They said, 'Is this it?'"
Now, Ladomer is recommending geothermal to all his clients, including residential and commercial rehabs as well as new construction. We spoke on June 19 -- a nasty, humid day -- and Ladomer told me, "If you don't believe me, go there right now. It's 69 degrees in there – and I think, 'It's the earth cooling this place.'"
For information on geothermal heating and cooling from Ladomer, call 734-552-2500.
Source: Larry Ladomer, owner's representative for SDBA
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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