Alternate energy source for your new or renovated home

The high prices of oil and natural gas are encouraging homeowners to look at a wider range of possibilities for reducing their reliance on oil and natural gas, turning instead to alternative energy sources for their homes - from solar energy to wind power to geothermal technology.

Geothermal energy, in theory - specifically, the technology know as ground source heat pumps - works because, serveral feet below the surface, the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature year-round.

Geothermal systems work on a simple premise, and they're effective almost anywhere and any climate, as long as they are installed and engineered properly. The system can provide heating, air conditioning and also assist the domestic hot water system.

The interest in geothermal technology is the potential energy savings, improved indoor air quality and little maintenance other than filter changes.

The only disadvantage to geothermal is the capital cost but this is offset with energy savings in a matter of a few years; depending on your system.

A bonus is geothermal's reduction in greenhouse gases that would otherwise be produced by natural gas combustion.

SITES TO GET ADVISE ON GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:
-Canadian Geothermal Energy Association
geothermal.ca
-Earth Energy Society of Canada
earthenergy.ca
-Ener-West Geo-Energy Services Inc.
ener-west.com OR 403-931-6777
-Natural Resources Canada
nrcan-rncan.gc.ca (search on "ground source heat pumps")
-React Energy
reactenergy.ca OR 403-873-0109
-United Communities
unitedcommunities.com

(info taken from Oct 7/05 Vanc Sun article prepared by Yvonne Jeffery)