Well today I recieved my fourth contract for a conductivity test in as many weeks. The outlook for 2011 seems to improving and building steam! How is it elsewhere? Eric
We can only hope that the wheel keeps turning, and geo gains more wide spread application with more success stories. Eric p.s. the primary focus we are seing short term is medium commercial and residential. Medium commercial being public/private buildings under 50 tons.
You'd think with the price of oil going up and all the recent talk about needing to find safe alternatives people would be flocking to get geothermal. I'm still tickled with ours and the fact that we don't get any more oil bills! We are saving a bundle which is lovely. Getting a geothermal system was the best decision I've made in years. In my area, having a geothermal system is touted in ads for houses for sale and recently I've noticed a number of companies offering them in their advertising, both in print and on the radio. That wasn't happening two years ago when I was looking for an installer, so I'm guessing there must be more interest in geothermal, which is a good thing.
The Outlook waterpirate: "...geo gains more wide spread application with more success stories." sunnyflies: "...people would be flocking to get geothermal." Wonder about prices?
The price here for geo continues to go down. My ability to become more and more efficient in regard to the drilling helps. The installers for residential and the commercial mechanicals have adopted a "geo is nothing special" attitude which results in ever more fair and ballanced pricing. Turn key geo here on new residential construction including the drilling can be had for $5,100.00 per ton. I think that is right on the mark for any other hvac system you can price. Eric
The cost per ton thing has been problematic for me. 5k/ton suggests 6 tons is 30k and 2 ton 10K (6 ton could easily be cheaper and 2 ton closed loop easily more). Cost graduation from ton to ton is closer to $2,500 for me. 4 ton units are around 20K installed closed loop, so add or subtract $2,500/ton and you are closer (for mid MI). Someone who is trying to budget also should remember that duct systems, vertical (vs horizontal loops) contribute significantly to higher prices. Open loop of course can reduce price in some cases. J
Joe I agree, I tried to round off and round up. Every job is unique and the units do not go up in price that way. Eric
I hope our part of Utah starts to see the outlook brighten for geo. People still aren't willing to spend much money here. Glad to hear it's doing better for others elsewhere, at least...
Certainly wasn't busting chops Eric, I just found myself concerned recently when someone who needed significant duct work with their system mentioned the bidders were much higher than the ~5k/ton budget number. I also should mention that we have not seen the price of geo go down in our area from more players, though dissatisfaction is rising. As I've said before prices have risen slightly (~5% since 07). The area I live in imploded during the gas price hikes previously (as the county is predominantly populated by commuters and contractors), so my optimism is held in check by historical precedence. I have also yet to see any well drillers around here lower their prices j
If this 61.5 year old hippie is in the trenches loading pipe and running a track hoe then business is good in Ohio. Marketing is about getting paid for us. I can go broke typing with all you alls and not get dirty. Japan is still with us and there may still be some new friends to make in the Middle East, but we know we can not "JUST" do oil or gas. feeling old with a day off north of Columbus Ohio, Mark
