Testimonials

Cozy times for Cinzia, Antonio and Laura

Long-term investment

For the past four years, Antonio Marra, his wife Cinzia and their daughter Laura have been using a geothermal system in their split-level home in Laval.

In 2006, the family’s electric heating system needed replacement. After learning about the funding offered for geothermal energy, Mr. Marra asked a few specialized contractors for quotes.

The chosen contractor spent three days drilling the well and five installing and calibrating the system. "The contractor was accredited by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition, and I really appreciated how competent, professional and honest he was," explains Mr. Marra. "It all went like clockwork."

The Marras’ installation cost $19,000, which was offset by a $2,000 grant from Hydro-Québec and $1,300 from the Rénoclimat^® program. "I see this as a long-term investment," adds Mr. Marra. "Over the past four years, I’ve noticed that our heating and air-conditioning costs are only half what they were."

Domaine Leduc residential project

A Québec first!

With Domaine Leduc, in the Montréal borough of Saint-Laurent, Gidal Construction and Les Habitations Luciano Grilli have put their trust in energy efficiency: they have built 55 Novoclimat®-certified luxury homes, all equipped with geothermal systems—a Québec first.

Giovanni D’Alessio, founder of Gidal Construction, has a long-time interest in geothermal energy. He installed a geothermal system in his own home years ago, and is convinced that the market is now ready to adopt the technology.

His conviction is based on practical results. The annual electricity bill of a model house (uninhabited) at Domaine Leduc totals $1,250 for 297 m² (3,200 sq. ft.), for savings of over 60%*, compared with a standard house of equivalent size.

"Of course," points out Paola Grilli, Vice-President of Les Habitations Luciano Grilli, "for geothermal energy to be profitable, two conditions must be met: good ground and top-notch construction designed to maximize the technology. Our customers are rarely first-time buyers," she continues. "They are seeking comfort and quality, but they want to do their part for the environment. They are also sensitive to financial arguments.

"A geothermal system is a fundamental part of a property, like the land, buildings and mechanical and electrical equipment. All these appreciate in value over the years, while decorative elements may lose value as they go out of fashion. Installing a geothermal system demands an additional investment of approximately $25,000, less the $2,800 grant from Hydro-Québec. That’s the equivalent of a luxury bathroom, but it’s a much more worthwhile and lasting investment."

Launched in 2009, the Domaine Leduc residential project includes four phases slated for completion by 2013.

Jacqueline and Hubert retire in comfort

Jacqueline Lagacé and Hubert Cousineau live in a 200 m² California-style house with a lot of big windows exposed to the wind, in the hills of Sainte-Adèle. In the summer of 2008, realizing that their old electric forced-air heating system was on its last legs, they decided to have a geothermal system installed.

For Jacqueline and Hubert, it wasn’t just a question of saving money and becoming more comfortable, but also helping protect the environment. They ran into problems drilling a 150m well for the underground loop, so the work was spread out over two seasons. But they are still extremely satisfied. "The contractor acted professionally and responsibly," emphasizes Hubert.

As the house already had air ducts, the couple did not have to change their distribution system. The geothermal system cost $15,000, but they received a total of $3,300 in financial assistance: $2,000 from Hydro-Québec and $1,300 from the Rénoclimat^® program run by the Agence de l’efficacité énergétique.

With a net investment of about $12,000, Jacqueline and Hubert have achieved their goals, and increased the value of their house, to boot. "We appreciate the comfort of the forced-air central heating," says Jacqueline, "and we now enjoy air-conditioning in the summer. And, between November 26 and February 1, we used only 8,470 kWh, as opposed to 16,260 kWh the year before."