Heat pumps are some of the most energy efficient heating systems available today. They’re also eco-friendly HVAC options because they don’t burn gas or oil to operation and they use far less electricity than other systems. The main downside is that they can be expensive to install, but with significant rebates and tax incentives available, combined with the cost savings they offer over the years, it’s an increasing popular option for homes to buy a heat pump.
A geothermal heat pump draws heat from the ground and releases it in your home. They’re vastly more efficient than conventional heating systems because a heat pump doesn’t burn fuel to create warmth; it simply moves existing heat from one place to another. And because temperatures underground remain a relatively constant 50 degrees F year round, the system requires a lot less energy to cool your home than conventional air conditioning systems or air-source heat pumps, which use outside air as a transfer medium.
Heat Pumps are the most common, and they’re also the most affordable to install. Water-source heat pumps are also available.
It works a little like a refrigerator which removes heat from its interior and transfers it to your kitchen. A geothermal heat pump uses the same principle, but it transfers heat from the ground to your house (or vice versa). It does this through long loops of underground pipes filled with liquid (water or an antifreeze solution). The loops are hooked up to a geothermal heat pump in your home, which acts as a furnace and an air conditioner.
During the heating season, the liquid pulls heat from the ground and delivers it to the geothermal heating and cooling unit and then to refrigerant coils, where the heat is distributed through a forced-air or hydronic system. During the cooling season, the process runs in reverse. The pump removes heat from your house and transfers it to the earth. Many units can provide domestic hot water as well.
The biggest downside to installing a geothermal heat pump is the cost. The system and installation can range depending on your soil conditions, plot size, system configuration, site accessibility and the amount of digging and drilling required.
The system may require ductwork modifications along with extensive excavation. In a new home, installation costs would be on the lower end. Even so, a geothermal system will cost about 40 percent more than a traditional HVAC system.
Recouping these costs through energy savings could take as little as four years or as long as 15 years depending on utility rates and the cost of installation. It takes some homework and professional estimates to figure out whether a geothermal system makes financial sense in your situation.
