Geothermal heating and cooling is an environmentally friendly way of heating or cooling a home or business. Conventional methods of heating the interior of a building involve the combustion of fuel or the use of electricity to generate heat energy. The benefit of using a geothermal heat pump unit is that heat can be moved from under the Earth’s surface and can be done so using 40-70% less energy than conventional heaters or furnaces.

If you dig into the ground several meters, you will find that the temperature beneath the earth's surface remains at a relatively constant temperature throughout the year. You can use this heat in winter months to make a livable space warmer. During summer months, the temperature beneath the surface is cooler than the air above the surface and can be pumped into a livable space to decrease the room temperature. Pumping warm and cool energy that already exists in the ground is over 300% more energy efficient than generating desirable temperatures from conventional heating and cooling systems.

Installation of geothermal heat pump systems will cost more than conventional systems. Not only do the geothermal heat pump systems cost more than conventional units, but the installation of geothermal heating and cooling systems should be done by professionals who will be digging the required trenches, wells, and underground networks of piping to access the energy stored beneath the Earth’s surface.

Owners of a geothermal heat pump system can expect 40-70% savings per year on heating and 20-50% savings on cooling costs over tradition heating and cooling systems. This savings will typically cover the cost of installation within the first 7-12 years. Government grants can also reduce the cost of installation between 30-40% which can reduce the time to pay for the upfront installation cost to 4-8 years.

The cost of energy is continually on the rise. Using a conservative rate of 5.5% to calculate the annual increase of energy costs, the price of electricity will double from 2011 to 2024. Imagine paying double what you are paying now for energy costs in 2024. If you install a geothermal heating system now, you can expect to save a significant amount of money in energy costs in the future. You will also reduce your carbon footprint in the world, which will be heavily encouraged by governments as the need for energy conservation increases.

Buying a conventional central heating or air conditioning system now would not be prudent. An investment in alternative energy or high efficient heating and cooling systems will save a home or business owner a lot of money in the long run. Choosing a geothermal heat pump system is an excellent way to cut energy costs and consumption. It can also be combined with alternative energy sources like solar or wind energy to further reduce an owner’s carbon footprint.