By now you may have heard of a geothermal heat pump. How does it differ from a standard heat pump and why is it becoming more popular?Well, you may know that several feet underneath the surface of the earth, the ground stays at a relatively steady temperature year round. Taking advantage of this fact makes perfect sense - a geothermal system can transfer heat from the ground to your home (by employing a system of piping), or from your home back to the ground - using very little electricity.
You may have also heard that volcanic activity creates a lot of geothermal energy. But did you know that your area doesn't have to have active volcanoes to offer geothermal heat pumps?
Savings when using a geothermal heating system may range from 30 - 70%. Geothermal energy can also pull double or even triple duty by using it for a radiant floor system and even for domestic hot water use! According to a website discussing the Water Furnace geothermal system, it is 3-4 times more effective than the most efficient standard system.
A well insulated 2000 square foot home would require about a 3 ton system with 1500 - 1800 feet of pipe.
Geothermal energy provides 80 - 100% of the design heating load. As with conventional systems, don't use an over sized unit - it can cause dehumidifying problems in the cooling mode.
As far as start up costs are concerned, here's a way to look at it: If a geothermal heat pump is installed in a new home, the monthly savings in operating costs will usually offset any additional monthly cost incurred on your mortgage payment. Since the mortgage interest costs are tax deductible, you will most likely have a resulting immediate positive cash flow benefit.
