Ground Source Heat Pumps for the Home 

Alternative energy through geothermal heating and cooling

Ground Source heat pumps tap into the geothermal heat naturally existing several meters below the surface of the earth. There the earth's temperature is warm and stable, which allows these geothermal energy systems to bring effective heating, cooling, and hot water to residential and commercial buildings. Best of all, they bring this heat and cooling without any use of expensive fossil fuels such as oil and gas.

The bulk of the work of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) systems is done by the pipes that are buried underground. What's left to be installed in your home is a unit likely smaller than your current hot water heater and furnace. Many people used to worry about the upkeep costs of the underground parts of ground source heat pump systems because the bulk of the cost goes into burying the pipes, but recently most companies have been offering 40-75 year warranties on the parts of the geothermal energy system that are buried.

If you already have a forced air heating and/or cooling system it may be practical for you to convert to what is called a "dual system" for your ground source heat pump. In this case you choose which of your heating and cooling system would be primary at any time - most likely the Ground Source geothermal energy system unless there is a very cold or hot period

Ground source heat pumps are quiet, safe, and easy to keep up. With no exposed, moving, or heated parts that can hurt kids or pets, and a smoothness that comes because the earth is doing the work, geothermal energy systems are particularly attractive.

The initial installation cost for ground source heat pumps are often made up in three to six years depending on the cost of fuel and the temperature variations where you live.  Geothermal energy systems are easy to install - easiest when they are replacing another forced-air system, but still easy when installed to completely replace other types of systems.

Contact an experienced ground source heat pump installer in your area soon, and he or she can tell you exactly what would be involved in installing a Ground Source heat pump in and under your home. He or she can probably even estimate how long it will take to reap the benefits of geothermal energy.