For a Ga location, I think propane is a poor fuel choice other than backup, fireplace, cooking, or running a generator. I would be looking at a Geo Heat Pump system or even a conventional air source HP system if solar panels can provide the majority of electric . Admittedly not my area of expertise. You have a acreage plus a well.

IMO

Excellent suggestions, ty! The Future Farmstead in Tifton, GA gave me alot of ideas!

+1 for geothermal.

12-acres of land would give
you the possibility to really weigh the cost of geothermal vs. solar. I would
look at open loop if you were planning on having a well as your source for
drinking water or a horizontal loop to mitigate the cost of drilling, since you
have so much land.

When weighing the cost of
geothermal vs. solar PV, look at the estimated annual savings geothermal will
‘generate’ in kW/yr. over more conventional heating, cooling and domestic hot
water heating. Then use that figure of ‘saved kW/yr.’ by geothermal to see what
a comparable solar PV system would cost to install and maintain, don’t forget
to do the entire life cycle analysis including replacement costs of storage
batteries, inverters etc.

A solar PV array is subject
to severe storm damage where geothermal is not; consider annual cost of
insurance as well.

I would imagine geothermal
beats solar PV by a country mile.

Of course if you have deep pockets you can have both!

IMPO

SR

"don’t forget to do the entire life cycle analysis including replacement costs of storage batteries,"

I don't think grid-tied home solar installations typically use batteries, fsq4cw. What were you referring to?

In building a new house, you'll get the most bang for your buck energy savings-wise by making sure that the right degree of and current thinking for appropriate insulation and building tightness, construction techniques and home energy efficiency are used.

Electricity rates in much of Georgia seem to be lower than the US average, that serves to lengthen payback periods for both solar cells and ground source heat pumps to the point that the economic returns from these items may not be realized for a long time, if at all. Be sure to get competent and specific advice from pros so that you can make the right money decisions.

Before you pick the HVAC system you must find out what the BTU loss and gain will be for the structure. You do this by having a room by room Manual J load calculation performed on the home. That will tell you what you need and then you can determine what equipment is available.

Why can't you first pick the type of heating and cooling system you want to install and then properly size it? Are you saying some equipment is not available in some sizes?

Yes and you are putting the cart before the horse.

I would suggest doing at
least some basic research on the type of system you might want to install (as
Mike mentioned), such as gas, geothermal, air-source heat pump etc. and then meet
with contractors to further discuss installation as well as sizing and heat
loss calculation. Unless you want to hire and pay for your own
heat gain/loss study by an independent consultant that only does the calculation.
That way you would have the added tool before hand to help gauge the expertise
of the installing contractors that you meet with.

With today’s variable speed
blowers, compressors, modulating furnaces, staged electric elements etc. sizing
is never a problem that can’t be met.

Basically it can be done either
way - as long as you stay on top of it and do your homework!

IMPO

SR

HVAC-consult.com learn what you need before you shop. A comfortable home is a happy home.

I'd advise considering the maximum size solar system your roof can support and work your options around that. Since your propane cost are likely much higher than your electricity cost averaged over the lifetime of the system I would advise maximizing your electricity usage and saving the propane for cooking and backup.

One way to do that is combine a furnace with a heat pump coil. The heat pump will take care of your heating and cooling needs for all but the coldest days. Another option, if your solar is large enough, is to use electric ceiling or floor radiant. That can give you temperature control at the room by room level, and eliminates the cost, pressure drop, and maintenance of a furnace. You could go hydronic with heating and cooling, but you would then be getting into really costly territory.