Residential geothermal has both pros and cons. It is however based on a proven technology that has been used for centuries. Satisfaction surveys show that more than 95% of homeowners with these systems would refer them to friends and family.
Even The Government Likes It
The Environmental Protection Agency also ranks geothermal heating as the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost effective systems available to homeowners today.
How Does It Work
The basic idea is relatively simple. A few feet under the ground, the earth maintains a near constant temperature unaffected by the changing air temperatures above.
Geothermal systems take advantage of this fact by using heat pumps to pull heat from the ground for the home during the winter and disperse heat from the house into the ground during the summer.
This is accomplished by looping tubes under the ground that circulate fluid to pick up the underground heat or disperse the heat from the home. These circulating systems are normally guaranteed for up to 50 years.
During the summer, when heat is being removed from the house, part of it can also be used to provide free hot water. During the winter the same system will provide hot water at a much cheaper rate than normal fossil fueled alternatives.
Pros Include
Lowers your heating and cooling costs by 30 to 60% Uses less electricity than conventional systems Produces much lower levels of green house gas emissions compared to other systems. Is a clean renewable alternative energy System both heats and cools your home. No chimney or furnace to clean. Simple maintenance with fewer things that can require work. Can be retrofitted into existing homes duct work. Can provide all or most of your hot water needs. Quieter operation
Cons
Depending upon a number of different factors, the initial cost to set up this renewable energy could be nearly twice the cost of systems using fossil fuel.
In retrofits during renovations, there could be a lot significant disturbance to landscaping.
Because of these problems the systems have not been as popular as fossil fuels systems. With recent concern about green house gas and spiraling fossil fuel cost the residential geothermal system has started to become increasingly popular.
Bottom Line
The extra costs can be recovered in as little as 5 to 7 years. The Federal Government is also encouraging their use with generous tax credits.
The reliability and cost savings of geothermal systems will also be an added benefit when the time comes to sell your home.
