Geothermal heating and cooling systems are the most energy-efficient home comfort systems you can buy. Rather than burning fossil fuels for heating or using ozone-depleting refrigerants for cooling, a geothermal heating and cooling system uses renewable (and free) heat from the earth.
How does geothermal heating and cooling work?
A ground source heat pump works much like an air source heat pump, but the medium of heat transfer is different. In winter, rather than transferring heat into your house, a geothermal heat pump draws heat from several feet below the earth's surface to make your home more comfortable. In the summer, it draws heat from your home and "rejects" it back into the earth.
Several feet underground, where the plastic pipes are laid in a horizontal loop system, the temperatures are relatively mild year round, no matter what the air temperature is outside. This means that with just a little electricity, you can enjoy affordable heating and cooling all year with one energy-efficient system.
Take advantage of generous tax credits
Because geothermal systems are so energy efficient, the federal government provides significant tax breaks for homeowners who install a new system. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the total equipment and installation costs, with no upper limit. You may also be able to take advantage of various other rebates and tax breaks for energy efficiency if your system qualifies.
Many homes can benefit from a geothermal system, even if you don't have a lot of property. Vertically installed loops require less land space and still provide high efficiency. Talk to your heating and cooling contractor if you're interested in geothermal but aren't sure if it's practical for your budget or property. You may be surprised at the answer.
If you're considering a geothermal heating and cooling system for your home, call the professionals at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more. We can help you evaluate the short-term savings you'll get from tax credits, and the long-term savings you'll get from a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about geothermal and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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