Residential Solar
The Benefits of Combining Geothermal Energy and Solar Power
Combining geothermal energy with solar power creates a highly efficient home, reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact, and maximizing financial tax incentives.
Geothermal Lowers Energy Consumption and Costs
It’s estimated that over half of home energy consumption goes towards heating in the winter and cooling in the summer—significant energy use. By replacing a gas-powered heating unit with an electric ground source heat pump, you can electrify this energy-intensive appliance and lower overall demand.
- Geothermal technology leverages the earth’s consistent temperature five feet below the surface, using a heat pump to circulate fluid that continuously transfers heat to the home in the winter and draws heat out of the home in the summer.
- Geothermal systems are substantially more efficient, saving homeowners up to 50 percent on their monthly heating and cooling costs.
- A geothermal system allows homeowners to radically reduce their emissions, reducing greenhouse gas by up to 75 percent, bringing homes closer to a net-zero emission target.
Solar Power Energizes Homes
Rooftop solar is becoming increasingly accessible thanks to federal and local financial incentives, a wide range of available products, and local service providers. With the solar tax credit, which extends through 2032, homeowners can deduct 30% of the cost of installing solar panels from their federal taxes, making it more affordable than ever.
Each solar project is unique, as some homes receive more sunlight while others have higher energy needs. However, installing a geothermal heating and cooling system can significantly reduce overall energy consumption, making it more feasible for solar panels to cover a home’s entire energy footprint.
Together, Geothermal Energy and Solar Power Can Produce Net Zero Emissions
A geothermal heating and cooling system replaces traditional natural gas, heating oil, or other greenhouse gas-emitting sources with electricity. This increased efficiency enables homeowners to use smaller, more advanced solar technologies to power their entire home.
For homeowners, the power of geothermal energy and solar power together means:
- Lowering their monthly energy bills
- Minimizing environmental harm, and
- Improving long-term home value for buyers who are increasingly concerned about energy efficiency
Mid-Atlantic Geothermal is here to help homeowners, businesses, and communities achieve energy independence, in whatever form makes the most sense for the situation. Here’s a look at how combining geothermal energy and solar power helped a Lancaster County homeowner achieve energy-efficiency, cost-savings, and independence.
Project Description
After years of high monthly utility bills, the Hoffer family from Mt. Joy decided they needed to improve their home’s efficiency. Exploring their options, they discovered that geothermal heating and cooling could not only reduce their utility costs but also help them achieve energy independence.
In September 2020, the Hoffers installed a geothermal system in their home. They were quickly impressed, seeing reductions of up to 70% in heating and cooling bills and up to 40% in hot water costs.
“Our geothermal heat pump has done an amazing job. The unit is incredibly quiet and provides excellent humidity control all summer long.” – The Hoffer Family
For a better frame of reference, during the winter of 2020-2021, their monthly heating bill averaged less than $100. Likewise, their cooling cost throughout two summers equaled $100.
Building on the success of their geothermal system, the Hoffers began exploring additional energy-efficient upgrades for their home. After researching how geothermal energy and solar power work well together, they chose to install a solar array in December 2022.
In their case, they went with an oversized solar system so the house would be overproducing. The solar cells are projected to produce more electricity than the home uses annually, meaning that the home is a net positive home.
“Solar PV and geothermal are meant for each other and work great together, hand in hand… It was never my plan to live in a home that was a net zero home, let alone a net positive home, but here we are.” – The Hoffer Family
The Hoffers Already See the Benefits of Solar Combined with Geothermal
- In less than a month, they produced 545 kWh, exported 75%, and used 25%.
- On the consumption side, they used 688 kWh, imported 80%, and used 20%.
The solar array became operational on January 7, 2023. By May 17, 2023, it had generated 5,470 kWh of electricity, with 2,466 kWh being surplus and fed back into the grid. The Hoffers’ last three electric bills have each been under $16.00, covering only their “connection fee.”
Zero Energy Ready Home Incentive
As home heating and cooling costs continue to skyrocket, the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has implemented its Zero Energy Ready Home Program. The program certifies energy ready homes and provides tax incentives of up to $5,000 for high-performance homes.
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