Cut Your Energy Bills The Geothermal Way

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Joyce Benson   1 Comment |
Tag(s): Energy, Going Green, Green Building, Greenhouse Gas Emissions / Global Warming, Money Saving, The Great Green Outdoors

Want year-round comfort in your home–and low utility bills and little maintenance? Geothermal systems are the answer for energy efficient, and quiet, heating and cooling, and for providing inexpensive hot water too.

Taking advantage of stable temperatures within the earth, a looped series of pipes is buried into the ground around your home, or even submersed in a pond or lake on the property. These loops are long-lasting, with some loop manufacturers offering up to 50 year warranties! Simply put, fluid inside the pipes is circulated, and in winter, carries heat into the home. In summer, it expels excess heat back into the ground to keep the house cool. Basically, it does the work of both a furnace and an air conditioner. Look for “triple function” systems, or add a “desuperheater”, for hot water heating too.

You’ll want to choose equipment that is certified by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and find a contractor who abides by the Air Conditioning Contractors Association’s procedures.

The beauty of these systems is that the cost has come down significantly over the years, and the time it takes for installation has also decreased to typically just 1 day. Payback for the system is only 7-8 years. More good news: there are state and federal tax incentives and low-interest loans to install the systems.

For more information, visit the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc. here.

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