Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Heating systems

[Nancy E Wight (wight]

Thanks, David for your info on geothermal heat pumps.  We are also 
considering them seriously.  Boston Edison is going to give us some kind of 
a price break if we install them.

I have a few of questions about this:

1) If we install electric geothermal heat pumps, we will not be having gas 
piped to our site, which means we have to use electricity (where solar is 
not feasible) for heating water.  Given that gas is much cheaper than 
electricity, I'm wondering if we will *really* see an overall energy 
savings.

2) I'm worried about the "extreme weather", which we have a lot of.  Would 
we also have to have a furnace (and air-conditioning system) for backup?

Thanks.  I'll also get a copy of the publication you mentioned.

- Nancy

Nancy Wight                                   wight [at] world.std.com
New View Neighborhood Development             Acton, MA