[TheForge] WAAAAAAAAY OT

[debmiller at fuse.net]

---- Dan Scheid <Damales at earthlink.net> wrote: 
> Ok since we have a broad band of knowable people from all walks of life I
> have a question that I don't even know where to start.
> I'm building a house in SO. Ca. with acreage. The question... is do Heat
> Pumps work for a simple 2000 sq foot home in this climate? I can not find a
> source or a contractor that does it for residential all commercial. I'm not
> a warm fuzz sort I just don't want to pay any more to heat or cool this
> house then I have to. We are going on grid with a solar assist. Commits  are
> most welcome
> Dan Scheid
> 
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Heat pumps are very efficient little beasties.  The biggest drawback to them is in colder climates where you need auxiliary heat to keep up and that is usally pretty expensive to run. The cooling service is effective.

Even better is a water sourced heat pump where you drill down to an aquifer and pump the water up and through the system. I am not sure about Southern CA, but here in Ohio  the water ends up being about 55 degrees F. And that's perfect for air conditioning. 

I Ohio people also put int geothermal systems in a field array, versus a deep well, but I doubt that is an option in SO CA.

Ray Miller
Cincinnati