Geothermal Systems

Why install a Geothermal system?

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a good alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems. Not only is it renewable and reliable but it can also save you a great deal of expense on your utility bills.

While these systems have a much greater up front cost, they have a far lower operational cost. That said, when you compare against some of the top of the line conventional systems, an 18+ SEER Air source heat pump performance is somewhat close in terms of efficiency.

There are also many tax incentives and rebates for going with these systems.

Not counting rebates and tax credits, the typical payback on one of these systems is roughly 5 to 8 years on a new construction or 10 to 12 years on a retrofit depending on a number of factors.

These systems are also generally much more quiet both indoors and outdoors than conventional heating and cooling units.

If they are something you are interested in then they are certainly worth learning more about.

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about geothermal technology -call us today!

Green Energy

These systems are cost effective and environmentally friendly.

According to the EPA geothermal energy is the most environmentally friendly heating and cooling system.

The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory also concluded that it is more cost-effective and efficient as well.

GSHP systems conserve natural resources by providing climate control very efficiently-thus also lowering emissions. GSHPs also minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems, which will seldom or never have to be recharged.

How Energy Efficient are geothermal systems?

A geothermal heat pump or ground source heat pump (GSHP) is one of the most efficient heating and cooling systems available.

Efficiencies typically range:

• Heating: 50% to 70% higher than common heating systems
• Cooling: 20% to 40% higher than common cooling systems

Question: How much space do they take up?

Answer:The majority of a GSHP installation is under the ground. The heat pump units are nearly the same size as standard heating and cooling units.

Question: Hot Water heating?

Answer:Few geothermal systems are designed to make on demand hot water, however a common system installed is a hot water assist generator or a desuperheater. This assists in making water hot in a standard hot water tank but it is only functional when the geothermal compressor is active. Usually this is most effecting when running your system in cooling mode.

Question: Is geothermal only for newly constructed homes?

Answer:Geothermal systems can actually be retrofitted into existing homes. That said, there are some things to consider. For example, hot water radiator and baseboard systems don’t match well. Ventilation duct work may likely be undersized and need to be updated. Also, due to the size of the drill rig needed, overhead obstructions like power lines can be an issue.