The Geothermal Alternative

Green technology has been rising in popularity in recent years. With the cost of energy on the rise, more people are looking for less expensive alternatives. While a geothermal heat pump system is more expensive to install initially, the savings on heating and cooling costs will typically cover the upfront investment in five to ten years. These systems become even more appealing with the additional benefit of lower maintenance requirements.

Geothermal heat pumps are separated into an outdoor and an indoor until. The outdoor unit is the condenser, and the indoor until is the evaporator coil. Heat is carried from the group to the building by a substance called a refrigerant. When this liquid is compressed, it is a high temperature and high-pressure liquid. If allowed to expand, it turns into a low temperature, low-pressure gas. This gas absorbs the heat.

Rather than extracting heat from the fluctuating outdoor air, as with a standard unit, a geothermal heat pump relies on the stable heat of the earth. Like a cave, the temperature of the earth remains relatively constant. Depending on latitude, it ranges from 45 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter, the geothermal heat pump system moves heat from the ground into the building. The reverse occurs in the summer, with heat moving from the building back and placed back in the ground.

As mentioned above, these systems are more expensive to install than a conventional unit; however, in the long run they can lower energy bills by up to 40%. This is due largely to the fact that 70% of the energy used in a geothermal heat pump system is renewable energy from the ground. And since most of the outside parts are placed underground, this means lower maintenance requirements.

If so equipped, these systems can also heat household water using s device called a ‘desuperheater.’ In the summer, the heat taken from the house is used to heat water for free. In the winter, the desuperheater can reduce water heating costs by half.

The cost of a geothermal heat pump system varies, but can be as expensive as $30,000 for both the cost of the pump and installation. However, an efficient geothermal system saves enough on utility bills to recoup the investment in five to ten years. For those looking for a less expensive alternative in the long-run, geothermal heat pumps may be the right choice.

http://www.floridaenergytaxcredit.com

http://www.geothermalexperts.net