| Investing in a Geothermal Heat Pump System | | | | a free source of constant heating that will never |
| You may or may not of heard of a geothermal | | | | run out. They are quiet. It can be installed inside a |
| heat pump system. If you have, than you have | | | | home rather then having components built up in |
| probably even though about installing a system | | | | the outdoors, or having an air conditioner leaning |
| and seeing how it works. I'll give you all the details | | | | out your window. The system is very clean and |
| and the low down to what the system is, how it | | | | the average family can reduce their carbon |
| works and how much money save you save. | | | | footprint by 2.5 to 5 tons of CO2 per year. It |
| What is a geothermal heat pump system? : A | | | | quite low maintenance and the pipes don't have to |
| Geothermal Heat Pump System (GHPS) is a | | | | be cleaned out by any unnecessary means such |
| system of pipes and tubes which run underneath | | | | as removal of the pipes. It has many uses such |
| a property and collect the warm air from the | | | | as heating up your floors, keeping your driveways |
| Earth and then transfer it to the home. No heat is | | | | and walkways snow free in the winter, hot water |
| created in the process; air is only transported | | | | for appliances and hot water for any uses. |
| from underground to above ground. This system | | | | How much money can I save with a GHPS? : A |
| can be used to cool or warm up the house | | | | system can save you 35-70% of your energy |
| depending on the needs of the consumer. The | | | | costs per year. From 400-1400$/Yr. As well as |
| tubes collect the air from underground and then | | | | yearly savings, the resale value of a home can |
| run parallel to your floors and release the free | | | | increase by over 20 000$ on average. |
| heat into the surrounding room. | | | | How much does a system cost? : For a typical |
| How does it work? : A series of tubes, connected | | | | 2000 sq. ft. home, a system can cost from 5000 |
| to a device called a heat pump, run underneath a | | | | to 12000$. On average, a typical geothermal |
| home underground. These tubes are filled with a | | | | system costs 10000$ to install for the first time. |
| liquid, normally some sort of refrigerant, and the | | | | Many states and government programs offer |
| whole system works just like the tubes in a | | | | incentives to buying and installing a system that |
| refrigerator. The tubes transport the liquid | | | | will reduce the cost. As well as maintenance is |
| underground and then back up where they enter | | | | rather cheap and rare in between. Systems |
| the heat pump. The pump then removes the heat | | | | typically last over 30 years before components |
| from the liquid and the liquid enters the pipe | | | | need to be replaced. |
| system to once again receive the heat from the | | | | Is a geothermal heating system a good |
| Earth. The heat removed from the pipes enters | | | | investment? : Yes, if you can afford it. We don't |
| the house and warms it up. This process is | | | | want anyone going into long-term debt with the |
| reversed in the winter to cool down your home. | | | | massive initial cost of the system, however if you |
| Why use a GHPS? : There are plenty of reasons | | | | plan accordingly the amount of money you'll get |
| why to use a geothermal heat pump system. In | | | | back by the system will be enormous. You'll be |
| the long run it will save you money. The step up | | | | doing yourself a good deed in saving a lot of |
| cost is large but after a few years, 2-10 on | | | | money in the long run, and you'll also be doing the |
| average, you will have saved much more money | | | | Earth a good deed by reducing your carbon |
| and evened up the costs of heating had you | | | | footprint. The initial cost of a system may be |
| stayed with a conventional system. They provide | | | | large, but the overall savings are greater. |