Case Study One: 20-Year Old Bungalow
Durham, Ontario
Situation
The house is located in southern Ontario. The region is characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The house was built in 1985 and has a 1,350 sq. ft. main floor plus a crawl space. A spring-fed pond measuring 12 ft. deep and two acres in size is located in the backyard.
Challenge
The homeowner is environmentally conscientious, so the total energy efficiency of the house was a primary consideration. The house was previously heated with electric resistance, which was costing the homeowner $3,000 during the winter months. The house did not have air conditioning.
Action
The 'Energuide for Homes' program was used to analyze what improvements would be recommended to achieve the homeowner's desired energy efficiencies. The Energuide report made several suggestions, including the installation of a geothermal system, which would provide the single biggest improvement.
Results
Since the installation of the geothermal system in October of 2004, the homeowner has reduced her heating bill by approximately 65%. The home also enjoys cooling now. At a set temperature of 75 Deg. F., combined heating and cooling costs in 2005 amounted to only $1,000.
The homeowner is amazed at the comfort the geothermal system provides. As she commented, "I'm in love with it [geothermal]; when people come over they say, "How come the air isn't dry?" The homeowner says she recommends geothermal to everyone she knows.
