- 1. Does a geothermal heating and cooling system have a large premium cost?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems have a cost premium to conventional heating and cooling systems, in most cases. However, Indie Energy has the financial expertise and technology to reduce or eliminate the first cost premium, delivering returns on investment of 10% to 25+%.
- 2. Is a geothermal system reliable and comfortable?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems rely on fewer moving parts than conventional heating and cooling systems, and therefore are more reliable and last longer. Geothermal heating and cooling maintain stable indoor air temperatures and are rated as one of the most comfortable HVAC systems available.
- 3. Can you design a geothermal system to serve multiple buildings?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems can serve multiple buildings in a campus, commercial district, or residential master development. Indie Energy has the technology and expertise to develop multi-building geothermal infrastructure that achieves economies of scale, and can be implemented through innovations in finance and planning.
- 4. How much land do you need to build a geothermal system?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal ™ systems require less land than conventional geothermal construction practices and are feasible even in space-constrained urban settings. Where space is limited, Indie Energy will design a Smart Geothermal™ system that utilizes the available land in combination with other heating and cooling sources for an optimized design.
- 5. Can you put geothermal energy fields underneath buildings?
Yes, you can put Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems underneath buildings. Indie Energy has developed processes and technologies to make it safe and feasible to put a geothermal energy exchange system beneath building slabs, garages, and other site infrastructure.
- 6. What happens if a geothermal borehole fails? Is there a warranty?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems come with a 50- to 100-year warranty on the geothermal pipes. With proper testing and commissioning the geothermal piping system will not require maintenance or replacement during warranty period. Indie Energy’s technologies allow for each borehole in the system to be isolated from the network, should a problem arise.
- 7. I already have an engineering firm on my project, how does Indie Energy work with the team?
Indie Energy works with your design and development team to deliver the optimal Smart Geothermal™. There is no overlap between Indie Energy’s engineering services and scope, and that of your project engineer.
- 8. My organization a not-for-profit and do not have the means to cover the first cost premium. What are my options for getting a geothermal heating and cooling system?
Indie Energy has developed the financial innovations to remove your first cost obstacle to implementing geothermal on your project. We work with you to leverage existing incentives that Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ technology deliver.
- 9. Can you retrofit a building for geothermal heating and cooling?
Yes, you can convert your existing commercial, public, or residential building to Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ with minimal or no disruption to your heating and cooling system. The economics of an Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ retrofit make it a smart investment with returns of 10% to 25+%.
- 10. Can I sub-meter the tenants in my commercial office or apartment building for their heating and cooling usage?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems offer the ability to sub-meter your building and provide energy savings statements to individual tenants. The GeoPodTM makes it possible to know exactly how much energy is being consumed in different zones of your building for heating and cooling, and how much you are saving with your geothermal system.
- 11. How do you know that your energy simulation will be close to the reality of a system once in operation? How do you account for different weather and space usage?
Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems come with a back-end metering and verification technology, the GeoPod™. The GeoPod™ proves in real-time, based on actual space usage and actual weather, what the system is saving relative to the conventional heating and cooling system.
- 12. I am already designing a high-efficiency building envelop. Does geothermal heating and cooling make sense given the reduced load?
Regardless of the heating and cooling load, an Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ system will save you between 50% and 70% on heating and cooling costs. These savings, combined with the significant financial incentives available, make the economic case for investing in Indie Energy Smart GeothermalTM for buildings with high performance envelops as well as older buildings.
- 13. How many LEED points will geothermal heating and cooling give me?
Indie Energy has LEED accredited professionals to help you design a system with the maximum LEED points available. Our experience has shown that 10 to 24 points are common for Indie Energy Smart Geothermal™ systems.
