from Jan B. in Madison, WI:
#960
About how much would it cost per square foot to heat campus residence halls with geothermal?
The cost can vary, read on to learn more!
The installation of a ground-source heat pump (geothermal) heating and cooling system is usually less expensive for new construction than for retrofit projects. Unfortunately, it is especially difficult to provide an average cost estimate for a ground-source heat pump system because the cost will depend on the type of ground loop used and the characteristics of the geology on your specific site.
If you are thinking about installing a ground-source heat pump system on either a commercial or residential site, it is important to:
- Secure multiple bids and quotes from professionals who do this for a living
- Check the references of both the contractor and the loop installer
- Select a contract that you are comfortable with and have explained how the system will meet any specific needs you have.
- Do research and check out your resources, for commercial businesses, check out Focus on Energy’s financial incentives and information.
To give you an idea of some average prices per square foot, here are some cost estimates for new construction commercial and residential installations from a 2008 study from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Commercial:
- Small office: $28.50/sq. ft. for GSHP, $16/sq. ft. for conventional system
- Large office or school: $28.50/sq. ft. for GSHP, $24/sq. ft. for conventional system
Residential:
- Small residential: $13.50/sq. ft. for GSHP, $6.50/sq. ft. for conventional system
- Large residential: $12.00/sq. ft. for GSHP, $5.80/sq. ft. for conventional system
Also, included are two cost estimates from commercial projects that Focus has been involved with and have been prepared in recent years.
- Medium office building designed in 2006: $19.70/sq. ft. for GSHP, $14.60/sq. ft. for conventional VAV/RTU system
- Large school designed in 2007: $18.30/sq. ft. for GSHP, $16.70/sq. ft. for conventional VAV/RTU system
Please visit focusonenergy.com/incentives for the latest incentives and requirements, as Focus offers are subject to change.
Published Monday, December 20, 2010