www.HeatSmartCNY.org January 17, 2019

Heat Pump Case Study Thomas Residence Syracuse, New York

The threat of climate change was the strongest motivating factor for investing in a geothermal heat pump as well as rooftop solar photovoltaic electricity at this house in the Tipperary Hill section of the city. This case illustrates that geothermal energy is possible on a small lot in a tight space. The vertical wells were drilled in a small area on the front lawn and in the driveway. The homeowner was able to use the geothermal system to provide heat for radiant heat floors and air heating and cooling. The home owner is extremely pleased with the result of the project, noting that he is very satisfied at being able to move closer to having a net zero energy home. Address: 248 Bryant Avenue, Syracuse Area of house: 1,800 square feet Year house built: 1897 Heat pump system: Four ton vertical well ground source heat pump (GSHP) installed 2016 System designer: Natural Systems Engineering, PLLC Heat pump installer: Renaissance HVAC (Verona, NY) Driller/excavator: Caster Drilling (Fulton, NY) GSHP type/location: Air – whole house; Hydronic – 1st floor GSHP make/model: Geostar Cypress GSHP well capacity: Four-ton combination system GSHP loop type/size: Two 285-foot closed loop wells Solar photovoltaic: 6.4 kW Prior energy system: Gravity natural gas and wood stove. No air conditioning. Blown in insulation in attic and some walls. Bat insulation in basement and in walls where rooms were renovated. Energy system now: Geothermal heat pump, providing both heating and cooling. Wood stove for ambiance. 6.4 kW solar photovoltaic system. Net zero?: Not yet. More solar photovoltaic to be installed to cover electrical demand.

HeatSmart CNY Thomas Residence Case Study

www.HeatSmartCNY.org January 17, 2019

Motivation for installing heat pump technology

• Climate change was a strong motivating factor in pursuing geothermal as well as the opportunity to showcase the design services for Natural Systems Engineering

• Cost/economics were not a factor in the decisions with the caveat that available incentives made it possible to compensate for the poor return on investment.

• Personal comfort was a small consideration in the pursuit of the project in that the home did not have AC prior to the installation of the heat pump system.

Results

• Extremely pleased with the project. Implementing such a system and moving closer to a net zero home is very satisfying.

• The occupant expects to recoup the costs of the system, but it will be over a very long period of time, i.e. ~30 years.

• The comfort of heating supplied by the GSHP system is far superior to the dry, dusty heat previously supplied by the gravity natural gas system. Very little noise compared with conventional (air source) air conditioning systems and the previous furnace.

• Domestic hot water and cook stove remain on natural gas. • Exploring installation of additional PV panels on second south facing dormer and east

roof and a heat pump domestic hot water heater. Expenses Cost category Initial cost in dollars Subsidies in dollars Final cost in dollars

1. Ground source heat pump

32,532

No NYSERDA rebate at time of installation

22,772 30% federal tax credit = 9,760

2. Solar photovoltaic

24,472

NYSERDA rebate @ .70 per watt = 4,508

8,975 30% federal tax credit = 5,989 NYS tax credit 25% (capped at 5,000) = 5,000

GRAND TOTAL 57,009 25,257 (44% of total) 31,747 Financing Bank or Loan

Program Amount Interest rate Year loan will

be paid off Geothermal KeyBank HELOC 22,000 8% 2019 Solar NYSERDA 19,714 ? 2022