| Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), often called | | | | warranties on the parts of the system that is |
| geothermal heat pumps, tap into the heat | | | | buried. |
| naturally generated many meters below the | | | | If you already have a forced air oil or gas-fed |
| surface of the earth. Just a little ways down, the | | | | furnace system it may be easy for you to |
| earth's temperature is warm and relatively stable, | | | | convert to what is called a "dual system". In this |
| so these systems can bring controllable and | | | | case you would choose which heating and cooling |
| effective heating, cooling, and hot water to | | | | system would be primary at any particular time - |
| residential and commercial buildings. Best of all, | | | | most likely the geothermal system - and the |
| they allow people to do all this without having to | | | | other system will only work when needed, such |
| use expensive and carbon-producing fossil fuels | | | | as during an extremely cold spell in the winter. |
| such as oil and gas. | | | | GSHPs are quiet and safe. There are no exposed |
| There are two types of ground source heat | | | | parts, fans, storage tanks, etc. that can hurt kids |
| pump systems: those with closed loops and those | | | | or pets. Nothing is burned so there is no flame. |
| with open loops. In closed loop systems, liquid | | | | The heating source is the earth so there is |
| (usually with some sort of antifreezing/antiboiling | | | | nothing to wear out. They are also quiet because |
| agent mixed in) circulates through pipes buried | | | | the earth is doing the work of the motors in your |
| beneath the earth's surface. During the winter, | | | | current furnace. |
| when the goal is warming a house, the fluid | | | | The initial cost for ground source heat pumps is |
| absorbs heat from the earth and carries back to | | | | greater than that of a conventional oil or gas |
| the building. This very hot liquid can be effectively | | | | system. However, that initial cost is often made |
| used to heat a home, and also quite obviously | | | | up in three to six years depending on the cost of |
| becomes a free-flowing source of useable hot | | | | fuel and the temperature in your area. The |
| water. During the summer, the system is | | | | greatest benefit of these systems is that you no |
| designed to actually draw heat out of the building, | | | | longer have to use oil or gas at all, so not only |
| and either use it to heat water for household use | | | | are you not subject to the price fluctuations and |
| or deliver it back into the ground. Open looped | | | | uncertainty of these fuels, but you also reduce |
| systems are similar, except that the water supply | | | | your own "carbon footprint" in the process. |
| within the pipes is continually refreshed. | | | | Ground source systems are easy to install, |
| The bulk of geothermal (GSHP) systems are the | | | | particularly when they are replacing another |
| pipes that are buried far underground, so what is | | | | forced-air system. In this case it is as simple as a |
| needed in your home is a unit likely no bigger than | | | | retrofit after the pipes are placed. However, they |
| your current hot water heater and furnace. If | | | | can also be installed to completely replace the |
| you currently use oil, you may be able to get rid | | | | system you already have. If you don't already |
| of or at least substantially downsize the size of | | | | have central air conditioning, that can be an |
| your oil tank. Many people worry about the | | | | automatic and immediate benefit of these |
| longevity and upkeep costs of this type of | | | | systems. Contact an experienced installer and he |
| system because the bulk of the cost goes into | | | | or she can tell you exactly what would be |
| burying the pipe underground. Recently however | | | | involved in installing a geothermal heat pump in |
| many companies have been offering 40-75 year | | | | your home. |