Case Study: Johnston Residence, Northfield, Massachusetts

The Project:

Robert Johnston’s home, a 2,400 square foot Colonial, dates back to 1802. The historic home offers many stories, from the original residents of its slaves’ quarters to a cutting-edge geothermal system.

In January 2009, Johnston had a five ton geothermal system installed to heat, cool, and provide hot water for the house. The short installation lasted a few weeks.

The age of his home concerned Phil: “Geothermal installation wasn’t exactly a concern of the original builders,” he explained. The team’s experience retrofitting buildings allayed his concerns.

“Phil’s home juxtaposes the eighteenth and twenty-first centuries,” said Dan Felten, of Terraclime Geothermal. Sam managed the entire process, from initial evaluation through the testing period. “There were certainly unique challenges, but existing homes can be just as viable for geothermal as new construction. Our in-depth analysis of the home before the installation process began enabled us to identify these in advance, which ultimately helped us stay on schedule and on budget.”

Terraclime Geothermal manages the entire process, from initial evaluation thought the testing period. The team works with a number of proven partners on each installation. In this case, the home required new ductwork. The geothermal professional teamed with a seasoned HVAC contractor to prepare the house for geothermal.

The Results:

The efficient geothermal system enabled Johnston to cut his annual costs by almost $4,500. In 2008 when he heated his home with oil, Phil spent approximately $5,400 per year on heating. He now spends only $1,000 a year to heat, cool and create hot water for his home.

Phil also qualifies for a 30% tax credit in 2009, from the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.