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Why consider geothermal heating and cooling systems

Earth friendlyIf you're building a new home, you may have some questions about geothermal heating/cooling systems and the advantages they offer. After all, deciding how to control the climate in a home is a big decision that will impact on;
  • the home-owner's comfort and convenience for years to come
  • the energy efficiency of the home
  • the resale value of the home
Although geothermal systems are not overly complicated, they are very different from traditional systems. So the first step in considering the benefits they provide is to understand what they are and how they work.

Efficiency
Geothermal pumps extend downward several feet into the earth, where a near constant temperature is maintained. Just like a refrigerator, a geothermal heat pump uses compression and heat exchange to discharge energy into a heat sink. During the cooling cycle, the earth serves as the system's heat sink, and during the heating cycle, the heat sink is the air within the home. This is a more efficient way of heating/cooling a home than what can be accomplished with traditional gas or electric heating systems. Geothermal systems are closed loops which prove very cost-effective in the long term, especially when used in conjunction with a properly insulated home.

Incentives
In fact, geothermal heating/cooling systems are so efficient that many governments provide incentives for their use. Check with your local and regional government agencies to find out what incentives are available in your area. These incentives can often help justify the upfront cost of a geothermal system installation.

Flexibility
It's also good to realize that geothermal systems can be flexible to the needs of a homeowner. The geothermal fields that provide the energy are typically installed as horizontal or vertical trenches. Horizontal trenches are usually less expensive to dig, and have a slight advantage when it comes to efficiency of energy transfer, but vertical fields installed like a well are a perfect choice where space is minimal. Inside the house, the energy from a geothermal field can be used in either a forced air system or radiant floor system.

Benefits
The key benefits to the end user of a geothermal heating/cooling system include;
  • its lower energy costs due to its efficiency
  • its increased safety (due to the absence of combustible gases, etc)
  • its quiet operation
  • its long service and reliability (A properly installed geothermal field will usually continue to do its job for 50 or more years, and well-maintained indoor air equipment need only be replaced every 25 years)
  • its ability to increase a homes value and in many cases even increase its rate of appreciation
  • its ability to act as a selling point to a future home buyer
Finally with its lower energy impact the geothermal heating/cooling system is a much more Eco-friendly solution to heating and cooling your home than traditional systems.

Copyright © Darryl on NiceAnswers.com 2017
Tags: environment, home

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