Deciding on a geothermal heat pump
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a geothermal system is the most environmentally friendly choice for temperature control.
When we built our new home, my husband and I were determined to minimize our carbon footprint. We not only want to be good to our planet but also keep our monthly costs as low as possible. However, the initial investment into a geothermal heat pump is considerably higher than any other type of system. There is excavation involved with installing the underground loop system. We debated and finally decided to go ahead with the larger cost for the sake of energy efficiency. Everything we read indicated that we’d recover the startup costs within five years through much lower energy bills. Plus, the geothermal system is capable of generating a free source of hot water. Because the heat pump is installed inside the house and protected from the elements, we can expect it to last upwards of twenty years. There are few moving parts so there is little to go wrong and a minimal chance of needing expensive repairs. The underground loop system is covered by warranty for fifty years and should last twice that long. The geothermal system uses the heat provided by the sun. It pulls free energy out of the ground and pumps it into the home. It doesn’t burn fossil fuels to create heat, so there is no combustion process. It eliminates concerns over fumes, greenhouse gasses and carbon monoxide. The process is wonderfully clean and safe. When the weather warms up, the system reverses the operation. It acts just like a conventional air conditioner and draws heat out of the house to create a cooling effect.