Houston Co-Housing Project to Use Geothermal Heating and Cooling

A 33-unit ‘co-housing’ development in East Houston will be the multifamily project in the region to use geothermal heating and cooling systems, reports Kyra Buckley in the Houston Chronicle. “Geothermal is a renewable energy source created by drilling, using the earth’s natural heat for energy and releasing nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions in the process.” While the technology is not new, it has not been widely adopted in residential buildings in part due to high up-front installation costs, which can be 50 percent higher than other options.

“The co-housing project is drilling 62 vertical wells as deep as 300 feet. Two pipes are inserted into each well, connecting at the bottom to form a U-shape. The series of U-shaped pipes are connected to the buildings' heat pumps, which are designed to provide heating, cooling and hot water. ” The developers will use federal tax credits to pay back some of the cost of the system. 

CoHousing Houston also claims to be the state’s first formal co-housing project, with shared spaces like kitchens and community gardens, and “will have a Homeowner’s Association when residents move in, as well as a set of community agreements. Members are to make decisions on a consensus basis, providing input on nearly every stage of the site selection, design and development process.” The community is set to open in 2024.