Geothermal Energy for the Home

Hugh and Marlene Frisbie built their home in rural Woodstock twelve years ago, and since then have worked to transform the former farm fields into a haven for people and nature. Restored prairies, woodlands and wetlands provide habitat for wildlife throughout the year. A natural pond doubles as frog habitat and a swimming hole for people. Both their cars are gas-electric hybrid models.

Last fall, they took a big step to increase the home’s energy efficiency by installing a geothermal heating and cooling system to replace their gas furnace and air conditioner.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems use a heat pump to draw heat from the earth in winter and dissipate heat into the earth in summer. In northern Illinois, the ground is a near-constant 53-55 degrees once you get 10-15 feet beneath the surface. The systems access the constant earth temperature in the ground through a closed-loop system of water-filled coils that are installed from 15 to 125 feet underground. As the water flows through the underground coils, it warms or cools to about 55 degrees. The 55 degree water then runs through a heat pump that converts the “ground heat” into warm air that heats the home in winter. In the summer, the heat pump pulls hot air from the home and sends it underground.

Bill Beattie from Rockford Geothermal installed the Frisbie’s system. The company placed about 1,200 feet of narrow tubing fifteen feet beneath the ground on the property in late October.
Beattie has been installing geothermal systems for five years, working primarily in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. He explained that those attracted to geothermal tend to be looking at the long-term costs and benefits. His customers are thinking about the 50% or more that their utility bills will be cut after the geothermal system is installed.

While up-front costs are 2-3 times those of a conventional heating/cooling system, reduced utility costs mean these systems pay for themselves in 5-7 years for new construction, and 7-10 years for retrofits like the Frisbie’s. Along with saving money, use of geothermal heating and cooling dramatically reduces a household’s or business’ impact on the environment. Because the systems use the heat naturally present in the ground without burning any fuel, geothermal systems release no greenhouse gases.

Rockford Geothermal focuses exclusively on geothermal systems, and primarily does residential installations - both new construction and retrofits. “Green is a growing area…” in the custom home building field said Beattie. He referred me to a new development in Hampshire that will use geothermal for all of the 114 homes that are planned, and also discussed a growing trend towards new homes that utilize multiple technologies – wind, solar and geothermal – to virtually eliminate the need for energy from public utilities.

The company consults on commercial projects like Other World Computing’s new building in Woodstock. In fact, it was at OWC’s groundbreaking ceremony earlier this year that Beattie met Marlene Frisbie. The rest, as they say, is history!
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Those interested in geothermal systems can contact Rockford Geothermal at 815-979-7275, or email Beattie at rfdgeobill@t6b.com. Beattie suggests that before installing any expensive energy saving item like solar panels or replacement windows or doors, homeowners hire someone to perform an assessment of the home to see how “leaky” it might be. Sometimes the easiest and least expensive way to cut utility bills is by plugging leaks and making sure the home is properly insulated.