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What is NextEnergy?
NextEnergy Inc. is the Canadian leader in the marketing and distribution of geothermal systems.
We have combined the geothermal industry's best products with highly qualified specialists to bring our customers the geothermal
solution. NextEnergy is based on the philosophy that quality products, competitively priced and delivered on time, will ensure
a successful customer relationship and company growth.
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What is a geothermal system?
Very simply, a geothermal system is the most advanced, efficient, adaptable, and cost
effective heating and cooling system in the world today.
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How does it work?
A geothermal system uses the energy of the sun, stored in the earth, to keep you in
comfort all year round. Even in the winter, when a blanket of snow may cover the ground, the earth's
temperature is a constant 10 to 15 Degrees C (40-60 Degrees F) at only six feet below the surface, all
year round. This means that you have a steady supply of heat to keep you in comfort, even in the depths
of the coldest winter.
The geothermal system consists of a geothermal unit, installed in your house, which is attached to a
series of pipes buried in the ground. An ethanol solution is circulated through the pipes to make them
highly efficient conductors of heat. The ethanol in the pipes absorbs the heat from the ground and is
pumped back into the geothermal unit in the house. The unit extracts the heat from the ethanol solution,
then distributes the heat throughout the house.
In the summer, the whole process reverses itself. Heat is taken from the air in the house and transferred
to the ground, which on warm days is cooler than the air.
For an interactive tour "How it Works" click here.
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Why should I buy a geothermal system?
Geothermal systems savings over the long term as compared to such
traditional sources of energy as propane, oil, electric resistance, or natural gas.
Annual heating bills are anywhere from 50 to 80% lower, depending on the system that is replaced.
Geothermal energy is not subject to rising costs or unpredictable price swings, and is not transported
over long distances. It is always available, right beneath your feet!
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After savings, what are other benefits of a geothermal system?
- Comfort
In homeowner surveys, geothermal systems are routinely ranked as
"more comfortable" than traditional gas, oil, or electric systems.
Geothermal systems get rid of the humidity
changes that traditional systems are prone to, as well as the
occasional odour caused by combustion of fossil fuels.
- Free or reduced-cost hot water
A geothermal system will heat your water 2 to 3 times more efficiently than
a regular hot water tank.
- Less Noise
Since the geothermal system also provides air conditioning, no noisy traditional
outdoors unit is required.
- Low maintenance
Cleaning the electrostatic filter once a month is all that's needed to keep the system in
good running order. Geothermal systems have no flame, no chimney, and no danger of fire or
carbon monoxide poisoning. No more worrying about deadly natural gas explosions.
- Long life
Geothermal units have a life expectancy of of approximately 25 years.
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Does a geothermal system help the environment?
Installing a geothermal system to replace a fossil fuel system immediately
cuts your personal emissions contribution by 50%, or the equivalent of taking several cars off the road.
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What is the future of geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy has a very promising future. The cost-efficiency of geothermal
energy will continue to improve as geothermal technology is upgraded and as fossil fuel prices
continue to rise.
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How deep do you have to go with your piping?
Usually anywhere below 7 feet deep the temp. of the earth is fairly
constant. The important thing is that you lay the proper AMOUNT of pipe for so many btu's of geo unit. Typically horizontal loops are laid at depths of
6 feet or lower, and "slinky coils" are not an acceptable way of laying a horizontal residential loop in our climate as they stuff way too much pipe in
too small of an area.
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Can you get all of your homes heat from a geothermal system?
Yes. Geothermal units come in many different btu sizes and therefore there isn't a building in the world that cannot be heated 100% with
a geothermal system. It is up to you (the consumer), and the geothermal installer to decide how much auxillary heat you require or want on
the coldest days of the year. Sometimes it is a cost and comfort benefit to have your backup emergency element come on for a few minutes
when it is extremely cold outside, rather than go to the next larger size of geo unit. As geothermal units get larger in btu size, they also put out
more airflow through your ductwork so one has to be careful when designing the geothermal system not to oversize in some cases.
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Do you use a back up element? If so Why?
Backup elements can (and should) be used on all residential forced air geothermal systems.
They can provide auxillary heat as mentioned above, and also provide backup emergency heat if the geo unit needs servicing for any reason.
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How much is a system?
System prices vary greatly on the following variables: Size of building, heat loss of building, type of loop laid outside, options on the
geothermal unit itself such as 2 stage (speed) compressors, ECM fans, and domestic hot water generators.
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How much will it cost me to operate the geo system compared to other heating systems?
What does C.O.P mean?
Typically speaking at todays electrical and fossil fuel rates, a geothermal system will save you approx. 40%- 75% on your heating costs compared
to ng, electric, oil, or propane heaters. This is obviously influenced by the effciency of the geo unit and the efficiency of the system you are
comparing it to. It should be noted that Geothermal units on a closed loop are rated at 350% to 400% efficient. This means that for every KW
that is put into the geo unit, you recieve 3.5 KW to 4 KW back (2.5 to 3 are coming from your yard). Efficiencies of geo units are usually expressed
as a COP, or coefficient or performance of 3.5 to 4.0.
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Are there any grants available for retrofits and new homes?
Yes. Refer to Energuide for homes program (up to $7,000 rebate to customers in retrofit situations).
In addition to the energuide for homes program, SaskPower Eneraction is adding a $3,500 enhancement to the existing provincial Energy Efficiency
for New Homes Rebate Program for customers who are building new ENERGY STARŪ qualified, R-2000 certified or EnerGuide 80 homes and want
to install a geothermal system if ng is not accesible for under $9,000.00 . Please contact SaskEnergy for more information on this and the EnerGuide
for Houses program.
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Are there loan programs available?
There is also a "home improvement" loan program offered by TD Canada Trust Financing for up to $35,000, with current rates at 5.25%
and loans for up to 10 years. Loans are literally approved within hours, and payouts to customers can be before the job even begins.
Often a loan payment for a geothermal system combined with your power bill are less per month than what people are paying for their existing
monthly heating costs with a traditional fossil fuel heating system!
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What is the warranty on the system and it life expectancy?
Standard warranties in the industry are 10 years on the expensive items in the geothermal unit such as the air coil, heat exchanger, and
compressor. Usually 5 to 10 year warranties on all other parts. Most Geothermal pipe manufacturers offer a 55 year warranty on the outside buried
geothermal pipe and fittings, as they are extremely durable and flexible and seldom fail due to proper pressure testing before burial.
Life expectency is approx. 20 years for the indoor geounit and equipment, which is pretty standard now for most furnaces and air
conditioners on the market today.
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Are you qualified to make sure we have a quality install? How are you qualified?
All geothermal installers who install a geothermal system for a customer who is getting a grant of any kind must be certified by the Canadian GeoExchange
Coalition (CGC). The geothermal system must also be designed by an accredited CGC geothermal designer. Obviously it would be in the customers best
interests to have the Geothermal company hired for the install do both the original design and the complete geothermal installation. Extensive training
and costs are indured by geothermal companies in order to be CGC accredited in both design and installation. Even if the customer is not getting a
grant on the geothermal installation, they should make sure that the geothermal company chosen has both CGC credentials for quality assurance.
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Is a horizontal loop more efficient than a vertical loop?
The efficiency of both types of loops are the same if they are done properly. Geothermal companies will tend to say that one type is more
effient than the other simply to convince a customer to go to a type of loop that the dealer wants to do.
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What is the payback on a geo system?
Paybacks are always site specific and depend greatly on what other type of heating/cooling system you are comparing to. Typically paybacks can be immediate for going geothermal if the customer would have to pay a large sum to get ng to the site. Paybacks can also be as long as 12 years (at todays utility rates) if the customer already has a new furnace and air conditioner, and ng is already on site and hooked up.
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What is the maintenance on a geo system?
Basically there is very little maintenance to a geothermal system other that religously washing your air filter once a month.
Keep in mind that a geothermal unit is much like a refrigerator, as it is basically a refrigeration circuit that goes backwards for heating, as well as
the regular way for cooling.
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