Green energy

Looking to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint? An HVAC system utilizing geothermal  may be the answer. Geothermal refers to the process of using the ambient temperature of the Earth to heat or cool a space, and has been utilized by energy conscious consumers as early as 1940.

How does this work? 
A heat pump is connected to a closed loop that circulates an antifreeze solution which is either buried in the ground or submerged in water. The heat exchanger transfers the heat between the loop and the refrigerant in the unit. The loop can either be run vertically through a drilled well, or horizontally across a field depending on the land available and the state of the building.

We live in a fairly cold climate, how is this possible for our region? Even though our area is fairly extreme in regards to weather, just 5 feet below the Earth’s surface we share roughly the same ambient ground temperature as the rest of the country. Geothermal Heat Pumps access this through ground heat exchangers, depending on this rather than the outside air temperature.

Is this cost effective?
While instillation and equipment can be a large upfront cost, many people see the additional costs recuperated after just 5 years using the system. Also, current tax incentives for alternative energy are making this an affordable option