MFennVT$5.50/gal for #HeatingOil next winter, at least!? Yeah, we're going to be burning more #firewood for sure. Once the house is paid off, we'll be switching to some kind of #HeatPump, I hope. Can you hook #geothermal up to already installed baseboard radiators? https://vtdigger.org/2026/05/18/after-a-long-cold-winter-energy-costs-are-soaring-some-vermonters-are-reevaluating-their-options/ #Vermont
john lehet@MFennVT Not an expert on geothermal, but I’ve learned a lot in the last weeks, as my son’s system is currently broken. I think you could run it through your baseboards. Geothermal = about $20k for a good heat pump unit, Waterfurnace brand, and then maybe $20 to $30k for the underground loops. Geothermal is an edge case these days, with air to air units advancing so quickly.
@MFennVT What I do is that I have two mini splits, one in main living area, one in bedroom. The AC is wonderful and cheap to run. The heat from mini splits is cheap in shoulder season, but gets more expensive in very cold weather. Last year in the coldest weather it was strictly the amazing new woodstove, mini splits off. All spring, woodstove off, mini splits running.
@MFennVT With new more capable wood stove (Woodstock Progress Hybrid) I’ll probably be burning 1/2 or 3/4 cord more than I used to with the smaller Jotul to get 24/7 72 degree F, but I’ll save about $200/month in electric bills by not running the heat pumps in the real cold.