Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a very energy efficient and environmentally clean way to heat and cool a home or commercial building.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a very energy efficient and environmentally clean way to heat and cool a home or commercial building.
View HVAC Guide RSS feedGeothermal heating and cooling systems are a very energy efficient and environmentally clean way to heat and cool a home or commercial building. This article examines geoexchange technology - how it works and how much it costs.
Geoexchange technology has been around for approximately 30 years, but lately more and more people are beginning see the benefits of this energy efficient, environmentally friendly heating and cooling system. At the same time, there are many people who are still unfamiliar with geoexchange technology and geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Sometimes referred to as 'green heat', geoexchange technology uses the earth's temperature to provide hot water and to heat or cool a building. A geothermal system consists of a series of carefully laid pipes that are buried beneath the ground.
In the winter, these pipes carry a water solution that absorbs heat from the earth. The heat then travels into the home via the looped pipes and is utilized by a heat pump, which transfers the warmth into air. The warm air then circulates through regular ductwork and heats the interior of a home or building. In the summer, the process is similar, but is reversed to carry excess heat from the house to the earth.
There are many advantages to a geothermal heating and cooling system. First, it's a much more environmentally friendly system than standard heating and cooling systems. So friendly, that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), www.epa.gov, described geothermal heating and cooling systems as the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, cost-effective system available today.
Geoexchange systems are environmentally clean because unlike conventional systems, they emit only a small amount of carbon dioxide into the air. According to the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, www.geoexchange.org, 100,000 units of residential geoexchange systems will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 1.1 million metric tons of carbon equivalents over an average 20-year lifespan. This would be the environmental equivalent of converting some 58,700 cars to zero-emission vehicles or planting over 120,000 acres of trees.
Plus, geoexchange technology requires virtually no external energy. Only a tiny bit of electricity is necessary to operate the system's fan and pump. This can result in lowered utility bills. Homeowners using geoexchange technology instead of standard heating and cooling systems can save up to 20 to 70 percent!
The cost of having geothermal heating and cooling systems installed has dropped quite a bit in the last few years. Because of the intricate looping system that must be placed underground, the initial installation may cost a slight bit more than a conventional system, but it is well worth it in the long run. The energy costs saved every month are more than enough to offset the higher installation price.
The end installation price that you pay will depend on the contractor you choose, the size of your home of building, the location, and the system brand. Most geothermal contractors offer free estimates to interested parties. If you'd like to learn more about installation costs, contact a contractor in your area.
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