Dive Brief:
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An Oklahoma builder has broken ground on a 46-unit development in which 100% of the houses will feature geothermal heating and cooling systems.
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McAlister Construction’s Avondale community of 1,600- to 2,500-square-foot single-family homes in Moore, OK, will be one of only a few all-geothermal developments in the country. A 400-lot subdivision in Kennewick, WA, is also expected to be the largest all-geothermal neighborhood when it is completed, according to developers Milo Bauder and Grant Young.
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The heating and cooling systems, coupled with a number of other energy-efficient features, are expected to earn Avondale’s homes a HERS score in the range of 30 to 40. A conventional home typically scores around 130, the Oklahoma builder said.
Dive Insight:
Geothermal systems are touted as the most environmentally friendly way to heat and cool homes because they do not emit greenhouse gases that contribute to air pollution. The electrically operated systems transfer heat from the earth to condition a home’s air and can lower a household heating and cooling bill by up to 70%. If the communities perform well, geothermal developments could start taking off across the country—making it a trend to watch in the coming years.