Geothermal Heating
As technology in alternative heating sources advances, many exciting heating choices are becoming more accessible to homeowners throughout the United States. Environmentally friendly heating sources such as radiant floor heating have become very popular during the past few years, as many homeowners are choosing them for single-room and whole-house applications. The same popularity boom can be seen with geothermal heating, specifically with the installation of geothermal heat pumps, an amazing renewable energy source that can save you money and help save the environment. Speak to a local HVAC contractor to see if a geothermal heat pump is right for your home.
Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most energy-conserving and environmentally friendly heating systems.
What Are Geothermal Heat Pumps?
Geothermal heat pumps utilize geothermal heat, which can be defined as the use of the earth's thermal energy for space and water heating. This energy, for example, can be heat that was stored in the ground's thermal mass during the summer. Geothermal heat pumps use the ground to provide heating, air conditioning and even hot water.
How Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Produce Heat?
For heating, geothermal heat pumps pump cool water (often containing an antifreeze) through pipes in the ground. As the water circulates underground, it absorbs heat from the ground and, on its return, the now warmer water passes through a heat exchanger, which uses electricity to extract the heat from the water. The re-chilled water is sent back through the ground, thus continuing the cycle. The heat extracted and that generated by the heat exchanger unit as a byproduct is used to heat the house. The addition of the ground heating loop in the energy equation means that more heat is generated than if electricity alone had been used directly for heating. Switching the direction of flow, the same system can be used to circulate the cooled water through the house for cooling in the summer months with the warm water being circulated through the ground loop for cooling.
Open Loop and Closed Loop Heat Pumps
Open-loop systems draw well water for use as the heat source or heat sink, and after use, return the well water to a drainage field or another well. Closed-loop or earth-coupled systems use a water and antifreeze solution, circulated in a ground loop of pipe to extract heat from the earth.
Installation
For a qualified HVAC contractor, geothermal pump installation is not an overly complicated process. It involves installing the indoor unit and method of delivery, whether forced hot air or hydronic, and the outside pipe loop. Loop installation can be planned concurrently with other construction activities, so the overall construction schedule should not be affected by choice of system. Some loops will require an additional permit. Geothermal equipment can be installed with equal ease in both new construction and remodeling projects.
Cost and Energy Savings
Geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating costs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. This information, as well as reports that have been made by builders who monitor their in-place systems, indicate that heating and cooling savings can range between $358 and $1,475, annually.
Save with Tax Credits
Consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016. For additional information on other tax credits available, see the Energy Star Web site.
