Ground-Source Heat Pump

Ground-source, or geothermal heat pumps, take advantage of the earth's relatively constant temperature to efficiently heat and cool your home or office. Geothermal heat pumps circulate water through plastic pipe buried underground. Water in the pipes acts as a 'vehicle' to move heat. The pipes are closed, so water is not deposited into the ground, only the heat it is carrying. In the summer, heat pumps cool by extracting heat from inside, carrying it through the system, and transferring it beneath the earth's surface. In the winter, the system reverses itself by collecting heat from the ground and carrying that heat inside.

Environmental Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency considers geothermal heat pumps the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning system available. Currently installed systems are making a huge difference in our environment! The systems are eliminating more than three million tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 650,000 automobiles off the road. Geothermal heat pump systems conserve energy and, because they move heat that already exists rather than burning something to create heat, they reduce the amount of toxic emissions in the atmosphere.

Savings

Geothermal heat pumps save money, both in operating costs and maintenance costs. Investments can be recouped in as little as three years. There is a positive cash flow, since the energy savings usually exceeds payment on the system.

Cost

The initial investment for a geothermal heat pump system is greater than that of a conventional system. However, when you consider the operating costs of a geothermal heating, cooling, and water heating system, DS&O's rebates and the energy savings of the system quickly offset the initial difference in purchase price.

Resources

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
U.S. Department of Energy: ENERGY STAR

Rebates

Combine DS&O's substantial heat pump rebates, with federal tax credits, and energy savings and your heat pump will easily pay for itself.