News Articles

GroundUp Members in the Spotlight: Pierce-Arrow building being re-purposed with area's largest geothermal system

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:00:53 +0000

Pierce-Arrow building being re-purposed with area's largest geothermal system

Article and Images Originally Published on WBFO By Mike Desmond - Aug 2, 2018 https://news.wbfo.org/post/pierce-arrow-building-being-re-purposed-areas-largest-geothermal-system

The Pierce-Arrow complex in North Buffalo is a familiar site to area residents, a symbol of a luxury car company that went away in the Great Depression. Now, remnants of the plant are being re-purposed by developers for housing and the Elmwood Avenue landmark is getting what may be the area's largest geothermal energy system.

Travelers who passed the old office building in recent weeks saw many indications of the construction project - concrete debris, orange netting, workers wearing hard hats, etc. - but they probably weren't sure about some different-looking equipment brought in to drill wells - 50 of them - to be used by the geothermal heating system.

"This building will have 50 wells that are all 350 feet deep, and all those wells are combined inside the building to one big heat exchanger," said Buffalo Geothermal owner Todd Schmigel, "and from there heat pumps are installed inside the building and those heat pumps generate the heat or the cool to condition the various spaces."

Schmigel said it may be the largest ever geothermal system in this area. The system is somewhat more expensive to install, but a lot cheaper to operate.

"It's green energy. It's free energy. Why wouldn't you take advantage of something that's beneath your feet to heat and cool a building? It's absolutely free energy," Schmigel said. "Once the system is installed, the payback period is a very short period of time and for the life of the system, your reduced energy costs are up to 70 percent."

The geothermal system will cost about $1 million and will heat and cool the more than $34 million conversion into 107 apartment units, a restaurant and some office space. The system is going in, as another contractor digs up the site for a brownfield cleanup. Other work to keep heating and cooling costs down includes the installation of insulation and energy-efficient windows.

"We can't do all our steps until somebody else does theirs," said Schmigel. "We can't do the inside piping until the walls are built. We can't mount our heat pumps until the next step happens. So we'll be here for the duration of the project, which is about a year."

To visit the original article: https://news.wbfo.org/post/pierce-arrow-building-being-re-purposed-areas-largest-geothermal-system

$128/Month: Geothermal Heating and Cooling, Domestic Hot Water - No Money Down

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:37:08 +0000

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Belle Beachner, Phone 585.935.7186 Email: Belle@aces-energy.com (preferred contact method)

$128/Month: Geothermal Heating and Cooling, Domestic Hot Water - No Money Down

BUFFALO, NY - August 14, 2018 - GroundUp: Geothermal Alliance of Western New York is leading the charge to bring Geothermal Heating and Cooling into every home in Western New York with its new $128/month and $0 money down financing option. This offer is for any qualifying homeowner looking to build a new home or replace their existing heating and cooling system in their current home, and usually covers houses up to 4,000 sqf with good insulation.

The GroundUp package includes the world’s most efficient system available, the variable speed Waterfurnace 7 series, that provides 12 stages of heating and cooling to provide comfort in your home year round, eliminating the need for any fossil fuel system. In addition, the GroundUp system includes a dedicated ground source heat pump and a water storage tank, providing 100% of the hot water to the home.

“On average, homeowners currently using oil or propane can expect to save up to 80% on heating and cooling bills with the most efficient geothermal system available. Plus home owners get a brand new system with 10 year parts and a 5 years labor warranty” says Ryan Dailey from Dailey Electric, a GroundUp alliance member in Penn Yan, New York.

“Instead of paying $3,000 a year in propane or oil to heat their home, the $128 a month financing will bring immediate monthly savings to homeowners. In addition to emission free heating and hot water, the customers will also have the most comfortable and efficient cooling system.” says VanHee Geothermal’s Kevin Moravec, another Alliance member from Ontario, New York.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has up to $15 million available through June 2019 for the installation of ground source heat pump systems for residences, businesses and institutions. Rebates are available to qualified installers for two years or until all funds have been exhausted. The rebate will be deducted from the total cost of the system, thereby passing the savings along directly to consumers. All GroundUp alliance installers follow NYSERDA’s installation standards for geothermal systems, assuring homeowners quality and performance.

Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,IP,Ref-North Tonawanda) said: “I am proud to have sponsored and passed legislation that will more easily allow residents of our state the ability to choose alternative energy sources for heating their homes,” said Sen. Rob Ortt. “Historically, the most challenging problem with regard to alternative energy has always been the cost associated with changing over system technology. However, thanks to bi-partisan support from my colleagues in the Legislature, and the efforts from NYSERDA and New York Geothermal, cost is becoming less of an issue. Alternative heating options can now be affordable for all residents, potentially saving them thousands per year in heating costs.”

Kate Bartholomew, Chair, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, said: "The Sierra Club recognizes that 1/3 of New York's greenhouse gas emissions come from heating our homes and businesses. To avoid the worst extremes of climate change we need to stop burning fossil fuels for heating, and geothermal heat pumps are a proven way to do just that. We are excited by this initiative to couple renewable heating with low cost financing."

Bill Nowak, Executive Director of the New York Geothermal Energy Association said: "NY-GEO applauds its members in Ground Up WNY for developing this attractive financing option. Geothermal heating and cooling is a low-cost option for New Yorkers, but because so much of the cost is front loaded at the installation of the system, it's hard for consumers to see the cost advantage. Providing a $0 down option could revolutionize the market for heating and cooling in New York! "

To take advantage of this new low-cost financing option contact us at GroundUpGeo.org/contact and a certified GroundUp geothermal installer will help you to begin the process.

MEDIA CONTACT: Belle Beachner Phone 585.935.7186 Email: Belle@aces-energy.com (preferred contact method)

Geothermal Tax Information Here

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:38:40 +0000

The 30% Geothermal Federal Tax Credit is back, which can save you thousands on installing a system and makes Geothermal more affordable than ever. If you are replacing a conventional heating and cooling system, be sure to get a quote for Geothermal.

We can not offer tax advice to customers, but we are glad to share what we know. Please consult with a tax professional to understand your individual benefits.*

Tax Credit Amounts

From January 1, 2017-December 31, 2019 – 30%
From January 1, 2020-December 31, 2020 – 26%
From January 1, 2021-December 31, 2021 – 22%

Tax Credit Highlights

There is no maximum credit. You get the true percentage based on the year you install the Geothermal HVAC system. It is a direct reduction of your taxes. (see example below)
Systems must be placed in service on or before December 31, 2021
The geothermal heat pump must meet federal Energy Star criteria. All geothermal systems that we install meet this criteria
The tax credit can be taken on any home served by the geothermal system
Can be combined with energy efficiency upgrade tax credits
Can be carried forward if you don’t have enough tax liability to use the entire credit in one year
The tax credit can be used to offset both regular income taxes and alternative minimum taxes
A taxpayer will not receive a tax refund for any amount that exceeds the taxpayer’s tax liability for the year

Tax Credit Examples*

House A:
I make $60,000 a year
I owe $15,000 in taxes to Federal Government
I installed Geothermal! It cost $30,000 (before rebates)(financing available)
30% of $30,000 is $9,000
I can now subtract the $9,000 credit from the $15,000 and my new tax bill is only $6000!
(If the tax credit exceeds the income tax liability, the remaining balance can be carried forward into future years.)

House B:
I make $30,000 a year
I owe $7,500 in taxes to Federal Government
I installed Geothermal! It cost $30,000 (before rebates)(financing available)
30% of $30,000 is $9,000
I can now subtract the $9,000 credit from the $7,500 and my new tax bill is covered with $1,500 to carry in next year
(If the tax credit exceeds the income tax liability, the remaining balance can be carried forward into future years.)

The the tax credits are administered by the IRS. Please contact the IRS with your question:

www.irs.gov/contact
2017 IRS Form 5695 form and Instructions.

*Disclaimer: The tax credit information contained within this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for expert advice from a professional tax/financial planner or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

GroundUp Members Attend NY-GEO Conference

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:38:16 +0000

Aces Energy, Buffalo Geothermal, Dailey Electric, Geotherm, Phoenix Energy, VanHee Mechanical and Waterfurnace attended the New York Geothermal Energy Organization Conference in Albany, New York on April 18-19.

https://ny-geo.org/

Members gave educational presentations as well as sat on open discussion panels to answer questions about geothermal and share the goal of GroundUp.

Image Credit: Aztech Geothermal & NYGEO Conference

Affordable Geothermal Heating now available for WNY Homes with Radiant Systems

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:37:12 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Email: GroundUpGeo@Gmail.com

Affordable Geothermal Heating now available for WNY Homes with Radiant Systems

BUFFALO, NY - March 27, 2018 - GroundUp: The Geothermal Alliance of Western New York is now offering radiant geothermal energy heating and cooling systems for a fixed price of $24,000, or with an additional dedicated geothermal heat pump for domestic hot water for $26,000, after NYSERDA rebates. This offer is for homeowners who have existing radiant systems or plan to build a new house with radiant, whether it is in-floor heating, wall radiators or baseboard radiators. A 30% federal tax credit is also available to homeowners when they install geothermal systems.

Radiant heat in a home can take many forms and is often referred to as steam heating, hot water heating, radiator heating or radiant floor heating. A GroundUp member can help you determine which is in your home.

With this new offer GroundUp is providing geothermal systems, which were previously perceived to be complex and expensive, to homeowners in WNY at a low cost. The offer includes a special heat pump, if needed, that can deliver 150 degree F water temperature, making it suitable even for baseboard heat. Also included is an outdoor reset controller, which measures outside temperatures and lowers the operating system temperatures of the heat pump on warmer days, to increase efficiency and lower operating costs. The system further consists of a buffer tank, outside loop field, pumping station, the necessary pumps for the radiant system, and a new domestic hot water tank if the hot water option is selected, as well as direct to load piping, which improves radiant efficiency by an additional 10%. It does not include the radiant system in the house.

Jesse Cook of Geotherm, a GroundUp Alliance Member, explains: “GroundUp Radiant Geothermal System and Installation cost typically covers qualified well insulated single family homes, up to 4000 sq. ft. in our Western New York climate and includes approval of the NYSERDA rebate.” said Cook. “We are excited to add radiant geothermal applications to our portfolio of geothermal solutions for every home.”

In addition, the current Geothermal Federal Tax credit of 30% can be used to further reduce the system cost up to $7,800 for the homeowner. “This would reduce the final cost to $18,200 with dedicated hot water, and $16,800 without it.” says Andrew Heiligman of Alternative Carbon Energy Systems, Inc. (A.C.E.S. - Energy), another alliance member.

“This is a fantastic opportunity specifically for people who are paying thousands of dollars a year for oil or propane to heat their homes”, said Bill Nowak, Executive Director of New York Geothermal Energy Organization.

GroundUp: Geothermal Alliance of Western New York is an initiative of the New York Geothermal Foundation and the first of its kind in the area to bring the revolutionary design of Geothermal to every homeowner at a discounted, affordable price. Interested homeowners can find more information and contact approved installers to set up installation at www.groundupgeo.org

MEDIA CONTACT: GroundUpGeo@Gmail.com

WNY Businesses make Geothermal something you can afford [Press Release]

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:13:08 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Phone: (585) 484-0436

Email: GroundUpGeo@Gmail.com (preferred contact method)

Local Western New York businesses join forces to provide affordable Geothermal Heating and Cooling options for all homeowners

BUFFALO, NY - January 9, 2018 - ACES Energy, Buffalo Geothermal, Dailey Electric, GeoTherm, Van Hee Mechanical, Phoenix Energy Supply, Waterfurnace and Earth Sensitive Solutions have teamed up to make Geothermal energy heating and cooling available to every homeowner in Western New York. Together these businesses have created a revolutionary concept; GroundUp: Geothermal Alliance of Western New York, to help homeowners easily transition to 100% clean energy.

“Our mission is to bring the highest quality and most affordable Geothermal heating & cooling systems to the people of Western New York, from the GroundUp,” boasted Todd Schmigel of Buffalo Geothermal. “Our goal is to inform the public about Geothermal benefits and savings, ensure highest quality Geothermal system installation and design, and provide affordable Geosystems to the consumer.”

GroundUp allows qualified homeowners, who are eligible to receive a rebate from New York State, to install Geothermal energy heating and cooling HVAC systems in their home for a total cost of only $24,000, which is thousands of dollars cheaper than currently offered. Geothermal systems with dedicated geothermal heat pumps for domestic hot water are being offered for a total cost of $26,000 to qualified homeowners. The offer is available immediately and typically covers single family homes up to 4000 sqf with good insulation.

Installing Geothermal systems in WNY homes will also aid in reaching the state mandate to have a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Alicia Barton, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority said, “Using clean energy technologies such as geothermal is critical to meeting Governor Cuomo’s nation leading clean energy goals. GroundUp’s ability to provide geothermal systems at a reduced price, together with the state’s rebate, will enable even more consumers to adopt this clean energy and help New York reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has up to $15 million available in rebates for the installation of ground source heat pump systems for residences, businesses and institutions. Rebates are available to qualified installers for two years or until all funds have been exhausted. The total amount of the rebate will be deducted from the total cost of the system, thereby passing the savings along directly to consumers.

Assemblyman Sean Ryan said “I am very excited about the GroundUp program. This is great news for homeowners across Western New York. New York has been a leader in advancing the use of clean renewable energy, and cutting carbon emissions. Geothermal energy systems are a great way for homes and businesses to lower their energy costs, and lower their reliance on fossil fuels. I was pleased to recently announce a change in New York State law that will allow homeowners, small businesses, and not-for-profits to install geothermal systems as part of the On-Bill financing program. It is great to see that the state and private sector are working together to expand the use of this clean, energy efficient technology.”

Geothermal energy heating and cooling systems also allow homeowners to have more control over their energy bills. .

“New York’s over-dependence on natural gas for both heating buildings and generating electricity means that consumers are hostage to budget busting price spikes when cold spells hit,” said Bill Nowak, Executive Director of New York Geothermal Energy Organization. “It's great to see geothermal companies pooling their buying power on behalf of consumers and helping to break the monopoly grip that fossil fuels have on our energy bills.”

If you would like more information about this topic, please visit www.groundupgeo.org

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MEDIA CONTACT: Phone: (585) 484-0436

Email: GroundUpGeo@Gmail.com (preferred contact method)

NYS Senator Patrick Gallivan, Senator Robert Ortt and Assemblyman Sean Ryan Gather at Local Business to Support Renewable Energy

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:36:05 +0000

WEST SENECA, NY - NYS Assemblyman Sean Ryan was joined by NYS Senator Rob Ortt and NYS Senator Patrick Gallivan at the Buffalo Geothermal office in West Seneca on Monday, December 11, 2017 to discuss the newly signed On-Bill Finance Recovery Program.

“I am very proud to be here [Buffalo Geothermal] and stand up for something that is good for one of our local businesses,” boasted Senator Patrick Gallivan. “A local business that had the foresight to look ahead and see what they could do different, what they could do that would help consumers, what they could do that would help the economy and they put together a very successful model.”

The program allows homeowners, small businesses and not-for-profits to finance energy efficiency improvements through a charge on their utility bill. The program takes January 1, 2018.
“It is a win-win for the pocket book and it is a win-win for the environment,” explained State Assemblyman Sean Ryan, one of the bill’s sponsors. “We are here to announce there is one more item on your menu when you are thinking of replacing or changing. your heating and cooling system.”
Buffalo Geothermal offers the highest quality geothermal heating & cooling installations. Reasonable prices + the best experience. Call 716-684-8848 to learn more. www.buffalogeothermalheating.com - Go green to save green!

Welcome to our Website!

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 20:34:56 +0000

Welcome! We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website.

Our new site features a modern layout and design, and is optimized for viewing across multiple devices. So whether you are on a tablet at home, a smartphone out on the town, or using your desktop PC at work, you will always be able to view our site exactly as we intended.

Additionally, we encourage you to explore our website’s functionality, and check back regularly, as we plan to add more useful features and information to the site over the next few weeks.

We've been working hard and hope that you will find your experience on our website nothing short of satisfying.

Thank you for your support and we hope you enjoy our site!