That's deep, man.

[thebitterguy]

umario has been a longtime (well, several months now) cheerleader for Geothermal heat. So when the Star decided to do a cover piece in their business section, I read it.

Really, it looks like a great idea once you get over the whole 'intial cost' thing. If I were building a new house, I'd get it in a hearbeat. The only possible option is that we might do a ReFi on Casa Bitter and get one installed. Unless something better comes along.

Comments

[sixteenbynine.livejournal.com]

If and when there's funding for it on my end, I've considered adding solar to the house. It's not cheap, but you get a tax deferrment, and hey, it's green power. My main beefs are that the panels look terribly awkward (not a big thing, just something that looks goofy), and the yield from the current generation of photovoltaic technology is not that awesome.

[umario.livejournal.com]

Solar electricity just became a much better option in Ontario (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060321/green_power_060321/20060321?hub=TorontoHome), thanks to the $0.42/kWh subsidy.

There are now a couple of geothermal utilities out there. Their interest rates are generally a bit high, but the one at 6.5% seems moderately reasonable.

These things do make the most sense at the time of construction. Being able to tack their construction onto the initial capital cost/mortgage is nice, because the price then gets hidden. The amount of natural gas, or whatever heating fuel you use, saved will more than make up for it should fuel prices rise as expected.

BTW, we probably have only about 10 years of North American natural gas supply left - so now I hope you didn't buy that natural gas dryer. The economics have shifted a bit.

[thebitterguy]

No Natural gas?! Khaaan! Khaaaaaaan!

Actually, no, we went electric.

[umario.livejournal.com]

Excellent.

That'll probably be cheaper, in the end.

[umario.livejournal.com]

Gah! I see that natural gas anything (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14461396.htm) is really a bad idea.

That ain't good.