Geothermal heating and cooling systems are considered to be the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today. These systems are so good that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that they are. Geothermal technology uses the earth's renewable energy below the surface, to heat or cool your home or any other building. This system is sometimes referred to as a geothermal heat pump, a ground source heat pump, or green heat. GeoExchange systems are the best choice you can make for your pocketbook and your planet.
In the winter, a water solution circulating through pipes buried in the ground absorbs heat from the earth and carries it into your home. The GeoExchange system inside the home uses a heat pump to concentrate the earth's thermal energy and then to transfer it to air circulated through standard ductwork to fill the interior space with warmth. In the summer , the process is reversed and heat is extracted from the air in the house and transferred through the heat pump to the loop piping. The water solution in the ground loop then carries the excess heat back to the earth. The only external energy needed for geoexchange is the small amount of electricity needed to operate the ground loop pump and fan.
The benefits to using a GeoExchange system is lower utility bills (25% to 70% lower than with conventional systems), lower maintenance, and higher levels of comfort year-round. You will also have the peace of mind of knowing you are being environmentally responsible. Since a Geoexchange system burns no fossil fuel to produce heat, it generates far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional furnace, and completely eliminates a potential source of poisonous carbon monoxide within the home or building.
The EPA found that, even on a source fuel basis, accounting for all losses in the fuel cycle including electricity generation at power plants, GeoExchange systems are much more efficient than competing fuel technologies. They are an average of 48% more efficient than the best gas furnaces on a source fuel basis, and over 75% more efficient that oil furnaces. In fact today's best GeoExchange systems outperform the best gas technology, gas heat pumps, by an average of 36% in heating mode and 43% in cooling mode.
Homeowners using a GeoExchange system can see a savings of 30% to 70% in the heating mode, and 20% to 50% in the cooling mode compared to conventional systems. A well designed residential system can exhibit positive cash flows from the first month that it is in use.
Today there are more than one million installations in the Unites States. Although this is a very small percentage of the total HVAC market, the number of people who are choosing to install geoexchange systems is growing rapidly (about 20% every year) as more learn about the technology. There are also a large number of commercial enterprises, including factories, retail stores, office building and schools using the GeoExchange systems to save energy and protect the environment. Should all of the nation's schools convert to geoexchange, the EPA has estimated that we could reduce oil imports by 61 million barrels annually.
The prices have a wide range based on a number of variables, such as your home or building's size and design, the brand and model you choose, your location, and other factors, so it is impossible to provide a number, but you may be surprised how affordable it is. To find out how much it would cost to install a GeoExchange system into your home or business, you will need to contact a contractor in your area for an estimate. There are Federal & State incentives offered to install GeoExchange systems in many areas so check to see if you qualify for any rebates.
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