Using a geothermal heat pump to heat and cool your home is a great choice for you and the environment.

Geothermal heat pump: this not-as-new-as-you-think renewable energy source that has provided electricity to power plants in the western U.S. as well as other countries, now is moving quickly into the residential market.

If you are looking to utilize solar energy and tap into renewables as well as collect more of a government incentive this is worth looking into.
It is most beneficial to you if you are starting with new construction.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 now has eliminated the the $2000 tax credit cap that had been in effect.
Homeowners can now claim a full 30% tax credit on alternative energy equipment for residential use including geothermal heat pumps and solar powered water heaters.
Read IRS Notice 2009-41 for the details on this big news.
To get the credit, you will fill out the Renewable Energy Credit section on your 2009 tax return.

How it Works

These pumps, also known as a ground source heat pump, work on the principle that the temperature of the earth at an average of 5-8 feet below the surface remains at a constant temperature year round.
Horizontal (cheaper) or vertical (more expensive) pipes filled with an antifreeze solution or often just water, are laid in the ground in a coil system.
The amount of land available to lay the pipe and the type of soil or rock in the area determines if you need a horizontal or vertical pipe system.

In the winter months, the fluid in the coils taps into the warmer temperatures below the surface. The pump sends the fluid back into the house where a heat exchanger and compressor blow the air through the home ductwork at a higher temperature.
In the summer months, the process is the same but now the home’s warmer air gets cooled underground and it is circulated back where it cools the rest of the house.

It really is an easy system to understand.

The EPA has estimated that this super efficient system will yield utility savings of about 70% ! You can even add a Desuperheater (not a superhero)to the geothermal heat pump which would supplement your existing water heater.

Now, this doesn't come cheap.
A conventional gas powered furnace and central air conditioning unit together costs in the area of $4000.
A geothermal heat pump system for a typical house will cost about $7500.
The coils need to be laid as well so to add a unit to an existing home, you’ll need to factor in the cost of drilling and that can be upwards of $10,000.

Clearly, adding one of these systems to your home as it is being built will give you the most cost savings since the digging and laying of the coils can be done with much less effort.
Don't forget to factor in the savings you will get on your utility bills, and that BIG tax credit and it should pay for itself in 3-5 years and last 20 years or more.

Minimal pollution, just the electricity used on the pump.
No noise…your neighbor’s will thank you and clean indoor air...no worries about carbon monoxide.

If I am ever to build a new house again, a geothermal heat pump will definitely be our heating and cooling energy source.

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