Geothermal vs Natural Gas Calculator
Model the same home on geothermal and natural gas using conditioned area, envelope quality, distribution losses, climate defaults, and emissions factors to compare sizing and seasonal heating energy.
📏Units and Presets
Preset note: Mixed Ranch starts with a 56 by 34 ft rectangle, 8.5 ft ceiling, mixed climate defaults, and a two-stage geothermal system against a 96 AFUE furnace.
🏠Conditioned Space Inputs
Climate defaults populate design temperature and annual full-load heating hours, then you can fine-tune those values for your location or fuel-use history.
⚙System Comparison Inputs
The geothermal path uses adjusted COP from unit family, loop temperature behavior, distribution penalties, and design temperature lift. Natural gas uses delivered AFUE after the same distribution path is applied.
📊Heating Comparison Results
Run a Manual J and project-specific loop design before locking in final equipment sizes.
🧰System Quick Specs
📋Climate and Distribution Reference
| Climate | Design Temp | Heat Hours | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild winter | 30 F | 1100 h | Shorter season, smaller gas and geo equipment |
| Marine | 24 F | 1350 h | Moderate design load with steady shoulder runtimes |
| Mixed climate | 18 F | 1650 h | Balanced benchmark for common retrofits |
| Cold climate | 5 F | 2100 h | Long heating season where loop type matters more |
| Very cold | -8 F | 2600 h | Auxiliary share becomes more likely on geo sizing targets |
| Hot-humid | 36 F | 900 h | Lower winter load and warmer entering water |
These defaults are editable in the calculator when you know your exact design-day temperature or full-load heating-hour estimate.
🛠Distribution Effect Guide
| Distribution Path | Geo COP Effect | Gas AFUE Effect | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiant floor or panel | +6% | Base | Excellent for hydronic geothermal |
| Sealed short ducts | Base | Base | Strong neutral benchmark |
| Attic ducts | -5% | -3% | Retrofits needing duct sealing |
| Crawlspace ducts | -3% | -2% | Moderate winter penalty |
| Hydro-air coil | -1% | -1% | Good hybrid hydronic match |
| Fan coil zone | -4% | Base | Useful on small zoned additions |
📐Common Project Benchmarks
| Project | Area | Geo Size | Gas Input | Heat Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tight townhouse | 1400 sq ft | 2.5 tons | 46 MBH | 31 MMBtu |
| Mixed ranch | 1900 sq ft | 3.5 tons | 74 MBH | 53 MMBtu |
| Radiant slab build | 2100 sq ft | 3.0 tons | 63 MBH | 45 MMBtu |
| Older cold colonial | 2400 sq ft | 4.5 tons | 111 MBH | 91 MMBtu |
| Large open plan | 2600 sq ft | 4.0 tons | 94 MBH | 72 MMBtu |
💡Use Notes
Attic and crawlspace ducts can erase a meaningful share of the performance gap between geothermal and natural gas. If you seal the distribution path first, both systems usually size smaller.
Many geothermal systems are not sized for 100 percent of the rarest winter hour. A 90 to 95 percent target can still cover most annual heating while limiting auxiliary runtime.
Choosing between geothermal energy and natural gas depends on several things. Almost always geothermal solution is the best. It forms the most efficient way heat and cool.
Such nets reach really bigger efficiency than the best gas boiler on the market. Although natural gas itself is strong, other fossil fuels fail fast. Burn fuel in gas boiler generate heat, that later is distributed through the house.
Geothermal or Natural Gas: Which Is Better?
That is less efficient than simply transfer energy. Geothermal heat pumps reach around 500 percent efficiency, what surpasses everything else.
Install geothermal heat pump cost relatively a lot. In some places lacks enough territory for such system. Ducted heat pump could require centuries for make up in 15,000 dollars.
One geothermal installation arrives in 127,000 dollars, but 30,000-dollar credit lowers that. Other case shows geothermal systems in less than 20,000 dollars after 10,000-dollar builder discount and tax return. Natural gas commonly is the cheaper chance.
Bring it to home cost around 13,500 dollars of the current end of line. Connect fee stores 1,650 dollars for the first 100 feet and 4 dollars each extra foot. Two years before you paid 5,200 dollars for gas half a mile away.
Natural gas could seem clear, but geothermal happen 22 until 28 percent less cost each term unit for heating.
Geothermal systems operate without problems. Existing ground loop probably will serve several decades. Only parts require refill.
Internal gear lasts 25 years or more, during exterior last 50 years or more. Geothermal can ensure 70.8 percent of warm water. That lowers the expenses for water-warming in 60 percents.
Annual cost for warm water falls from 433 to 173 dollars. In usual houses with gas heat you install standard AC unit for cooling. Geothermal uses earth heat for produce electricity, so it is renewable.
About carbon intensity it a lot surpasses natural gas.
