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About Keith Patton
Expertise
I can answer questions concerning physical and historical geology, environmental geology/hydrology, environmental consulting, remote sensing/aerial photo interpretation, G&G computer applications, petroleum exploration, drilling, geochemistry, geochemical and microbiological prospecting, 3D reservoir modeling, computer mapping and drilling.I am not a geophysicist.

Experience
I have 24 years experience split between the petroleum and environmental industries. I have served as an expert witness in remote sensing, developmental geologist, exploration geologist, enviromental project manager, and subject matter expert in geology and geophysical software development.

Organizations
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
American Association of Photogrammetrists and Remote Sensing

Education/Credentials
Bachelor and Master of Science
Registered Geologist in State of Texas

You are here: Experts > Science > Geology > Geology > Geothermal system & high electric bills

Geology - Geothermal system & high electric bills

Expert: Keith Patton - 11/4/2009

Question
We live in the Chicago area and recently built a new 3800 sq.ft. home with a geothermal heating/cooling system (vertical closed loop). Since then we have had extraordinarily high electric bills - averaging $314/mo. with some as high as $800/mo. during winter. I think the geothermal system is not operating correctly but the contractor disagrees. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer

What you are calling "geothermal" is what used to be called a heat pump. That is, it uses ground water to cool and heat by using the natural constant temperature of the ground water.

Water is pumped down and up in a loop using the cool temp of the water to cool in the summer months and to warm in the winter months. You can only expect the inside of you house to heated by this to somewhere in the mid 60 degree range. Most systems use a supplemental heating system. If you have your thermostat set in the 70's expecting the house to warm up above the 60's you are just wasting electricity pumping water in a futile attempt to reach a temperature that the system cannot produce.

From what I know, heat pumps are only viable in mild climates and not for colder areas. So I think you were horribly misled by the seller.

True geothermal uses heated water produced in areas with near surface volcanic activity and hot springs produce steam from super heated water. The industry seems to have tagged on the term "geothermal" to capitalize on the wave of "green" minded consumers. You got taken.

I am sure you are not he first nor will you be the last to be misled by being sold something you were told would help the "environment" and save you dollars at the same time. In most cases they are mutually exclusive. There is no such thing as a free lunch. We "saved" the ozone layer by changing freon types but look at the cost differnce...$.99/lb versus $34.00/lb.

The money you thought you were saving you'll end up spending on sweaters and jackets to wear around the house, and the carbon produced by the sheep or the petrochemical plants that produced the fibers will probably equal the amount you saved by not going with a oil or natural gas furnace.

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