TechPractices: Bob Schmitt Homes, OH

PATH's Technologies in Practice are large scale housing projects throughout the U.S. where innovative technologies are being installed and used. Information is presented from the viewpoint of builders and remodelers who can use these examples as models for projects of their own.

Summary

Keeping customers comfortable while lowering their energy bills is a goal of most energy-efficient builders. Bob Schmitt Homes (BSH) does this by equipping about 80 percent of their new homes with geothermal systems for heating and cooling and hot water.

BSH has been in business for over 45 years and builds between 50 and 75 custom homes annually with an average selling price of $230,000. They monitor each home annually for energy performance. Although geothermal systems have a higher initial cost than traditional heating and cooling equipment, they substantially reduce customer's energy bills.

Details

Bob Schmitt Homes use Hydro Delta Heat Pumps, manufactured by Hydro Delta Corporation, for space heating and cooling and water heating. In addition to heating and cooling, this geothermal heat pump system also provides 100 percent of a home's water heating needs.

The Hydro Delta Heat pump circulates a heat transfer liquid through closed-loops in deep wells, thus these systems have no above ground equipment. From this liquid a compressor extracts or dissipates heat. The indoor equipment looks similar to traditional heating and cooling equipment. BSH new homes are constructed with vertical ground loops because ground space is limited. Although vertical loops cost more than horizontal loops, they are necessary when ground space is limited.

BSH performs a cost analysis on each home to illustrate the cost savings of operating geothermal heat pumps versus traditional heating and cooling methods. The cost analysis is given to prospective customers as part of their sales package.

Installation/Construction

Bob Schmitt Homes has found that the first step in making geothermal heat pumps cost effective is starting with an energy-efficient building envelope. Because the initial equipment cost of geothermal systems is higher than traditional heating and cooling, BSH has found it cost effective to reduce the required size of the system by incorporating more energy efficient construction practices. Energy-efficient features include low-E wood windows, foam-filled steel doors, and an R-19 total wall insulation value obtained with fiberglass batt cavity insulation and 1-inch exterior foam sheathing. Measures are taken to control air infiltration, such as using casement windows that pull air-tight upon closing, sill sealer at the foundation sill plate, and foam sealant at all exterior penetrations.

Geothermal systems require an extra step in the building process--well drilling for the ground loops. Ground loops can also be installed in less expensive horizontal loops, but this uses too much space for BSH. To save costs on the vertical loops, BSH new homes drills wells for several homes at the same time to reduce costs associated with moving well-drilling equipment on site.

Installation of the indoor geothermal equipment is similar to traditional HVAC equipment.

Benefits/Costs

Geothermal systems provide space heating and cooling and water heating for a low operating cost. They produce warmer delivery air than air-source heat pumps, have no outdoor condensing unit, and are not associated with any indoor air quality concerns.

The geothermal systems in BSH new homes cost about $5,000 more than traditional heating and cooling equipment. However, customers have immediate savings. BSH's customers typically realize a positive cash flow because the monthly energy savings are greater than the incremental increase of monthly mortgage payments resultant from the higher initial cost of the geothermal system. The results of an analysis of a typical BSH home of 2,500 square feet is presented in the following table. These cost savings are based on a local electric rate averaging about $0.075 per kWh and the local gas price of $0.70 per therm (It should be noted that natural gas prices are expected to decrease by up to 50% next year because of local competition).

Code/Regulatory

There are no special codes that geothermal systems are required to meet in this area.

Feedback

Each home is monitored annually by BSH for energy performance. They use this monitoring to troubleshoot and for future marketing efforts. Energy monitoring has shown the systems to be very energy efficient.

Feedback from customers is very positive. The company is located in the community where they build. Because of their close proximity, they have frequent contact with their customers.

Contact(s)

Do you have a specific question? Try the contacts listed below:

Bob Schmitt Homes
8501 Woodbridge Circle
N. Ridgeville, OH 44039
440-327-9495

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004-2696
888-ALL-4-GEO
www.geoexchange.org/

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
490 Cordell South Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-8018
405-744-5175
www.igshpa.okstate.edu/

Hydro Heat
Hydro Delta Corporation
1000 Rico Road
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-373-5800