Is installing a ground source heat pump affordable?

When you’re investing in new heating and cooling equipment for your home, one of the deciding factors will probably be cost. The cost of installation and energy is a top concern for many homeowners. Before choosing a ground source heat pump, you’ll want to know all the costs associated with installation and operation.

The cost of installing a ground source heat pump will vary from site to site. Different homes have different needs, varying heating and cooling loads, and type of earth loop available to the site, which will all factor into the final price. The heating and cooling loads can be effected by the size of the house and how well it is insulated. The yard size will determine  whether a horizontal or vertical earth loop can be installed. An open loop earth loop will new special township or county approval.

The federal government as well as many state and local programs offer incentives which can cut down the cost of installing a ground source heat pump for homeowners. With the federal tax credit alone, you may be eligible to receive up to 30 percent of the cost of installation back. Don’t count on these incentives unless you meet the qualifications. It’s best to call and verify your installation will be eligible before installing to avoid any surprises later.

Homeowners can also estimate how much it will cost to operate their new ground source heat pump ahead of time. Consider your home’s heating and cooling demand, and the efficiency of the ground source heat pump you’ll be installing. If you need help determining operation costs or your payback period, or to learn more about installing a ground source heat pump for your home, contact Smith Sustainable Design today.

Types of geothermal heat pump systems

Geothermal heat pump systems are ideal for use in most homes due to their extreme efficiency and use of natural energy to heat and cool living spaces. When choosing a geothermal heat pump for your home, there are two different options which may be suitable for your application. Residential geothermal heat pump systems can be either water-to-water or water-to air heat pumps.

Water-to-water geothermal heat pump systems

A water-to-water geothermal heat pump system is used for radiant heating and cooling; domestic hot water; pool conditioning; ice and snow melt. They can be used in place of gas or oil furnaces which may be used in the home for heating water and indoor living spaces. These heat pumps work at their highest efficiency when the temperature variance between the ground and the heat sink inside the home is minimal.

A water-to-water geothermal heat pump can also be used to heat your home’s hot water. Many new geothermal heat pumps are equipped with desuperheaters, which allows excess heat from the compressor to be transferred to the domestic water heater. Using a geothermal heat pump is an effective, efficient way to provide for all your home’s heating needs.

Water-to-air geothermal heat pump systems

A water-to-air geothermal heat pump system is used for forced air heating and cooling a home and domestic hot water. These heat pumps use water as a heat sink, or the location where heat is rejected from inside the house. The air is then distributed in the home through the duct system. They function in the same manner as the water-to-water heat pumps.

To make your home’s geothermal heat pump system more efficient, you can take a few simple steps. Start by cutting your home’s heating and cooling requirements. This can be done through insulation as well as using windows for solar heat gain during colder months.

If you’re considering a geothermal heat pump system for your home, consult the professionals at Smith Sustainable Design. We can help you by designing an appropriate system to meet your home’s requirements.

Heating your home with geothermal heating systems

Heat pumps have been around for decades, and the technology has been improving ever since. Geothermal heating systems are considered one of the most effective and efficient methods for heating and cooling homes and businesses. With efficiencies of over 500% in some models, they can reduce home energy consumption by up to 75 percent while cutting carbon emissions by 70 percent or more.

Despite all the advantages they offer, geothermal heating systems aren't as widely used as conventional heating and cooling methods. The reasons behind this concern upfront costs, lack of knowledge about the systems, and inconsistent incentive initiatives. In the last few years, the federal government has been pushing tax credits for homeowners installing geothermal heating systems, which have allowed many more homeowners to take advantage of this efficient heating and cooling technology in their homes.

Geothermal heating systems perform better than air source heat pumps. While the air outside fluctuates in temperature, the ground below us remains at a steady temperature all year long. The lack of temperature variation in the heat source used by geothermal heating systems makes them more than twice as efficient compared to air source heat pumps.

Yes, geothermal heating systems are more expensive to install. They don’t just consist of the equipment you see in your home or outside like conventional forced air heating and cooling systems have. There is also the ground loop component which is comprised of hundreds of feet of pipes buried underground. The ground loop works with the heat pump to absorb and circulate heat from the earth up into your home.

The performance of your home’s geothermal heating system will depend on a few factors. First, the climate will play a role in determining your home’s heating demand. Second, the heating fuels you geothermal heating system is replacing will also play a role, as some fuels and heating equipment are more efficient than others, and more expensive. Replacing expensive heating fuels with a geothermal heating system will result in greater energy and monetary savings versus lower cost fuels.

Myths about geothermal heat systems

Geothermal heat systems are an excellent option for homeowners looking to heat and cool their homes efficiently and affordably. They are not usually found in homes as often as gas and oil heating and electric cooling equipment, so not all homeowners know about their advantages. If you’re not familiar with geothermal, it’s easy to believe some of the myths floating around about these systems. Get the facts instead and don’t buy into the myths about geothermal heating systems.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems aren't a renewable technology

Some people think that because these systems use a small amount of electricity, they are not a true renewable system. The truth is, a geothermal system moves up to 5 times the amount of heating and cooling for every unit of electricity they use. How’s that for efficiency?

Myth: You need a lot of space to install a geothermal heat system

The earth loop utilized by the geothermal system doesn't always have to be installed horizontally, covering a large area. In some installations, the loop can be laid vertically. This option makes it easy to install a geothermal heat system on a site with restricted space.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems are loud

One of the pluses to installing a geothermal heat system is the quiet operation. The heat pump component of the geothermal heat system is installed inside, so your neighbors wouldn't be affected even if it was noisy.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems only heat your home

A geothermal heat system can also provide cooling for your home, no need for two types of equipment. During the summer months, its process is reversed to remove warm air from your home and deposit it back into the earth.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems are too expensive

With the incentives available to homeowners installing geothermal heat systems, they may not be much more expensive than conventional heating and cooling systems. Plus, your geothermal heat system continues to pay you back as you use it with increased energy savings for your household.

Smart heating and cooling with geothermal

The sun’s energy is useful for generating electricity for your home. It’s also useful for heating and cooling, but not through the use of solar panel collectors. Geothermal heating and cooling systems also make use of the sun’s free energy using different collection methods. Ground loop components actually absorb heat caused by the sun from within the earth to heat your home, and deposit heat back into the earth for cooling.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems offer the highest level of energy savings compared to any home system. With geothermal, you can save as much as 70 percent on heating and cooling costs. This savings is made possible through the use of the sun’s energy stored within the earth, rather than fossil fuels.

Even when temperatures outside fluctuate, geothermal provides steady heating and cooling. It doesn't matter what the outside temperature is, because the temperature below ground always remains at a constant level. Usually, this temperature is between 50 and 55 degrees year round.

For heating purposes, geothermal heating and cooling systems offer the best return on your heating dollars. They are able to produce about 5 dollars’ worth of heat for every dollar spent for electricity. Even the most high efficiency furnace can’t do that. In fact, the best a high efficiency furnace can do is give you back about 98 cents’ worth of heating for every dollar spent on heating fuels; not much of a payback, is it?

For cooling, central air conditioners and air source heat pumps drop in efficiency as outdoor temperatures climb, which is typically when you want and need cooling the most. A geothermal heating and cooling system is much more efficient. Typically, they more than double the efficiency you’ll find with air source heat pumps and central air conditioners.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems don’t have exposed outdoor components. Everything you need is either below ground or housed within your home. Central air conditioners and air source heat pumps have outdoor components, leaving them vulnerable to damage, vandalism, and theft.

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Many people know that geothermal heat systems use the earth’s heat to provide heating for the home, but may be unsure of how this is achieved. The answer is simple: a heat pump. The system utilizes a ground source heat pump to move heat from within the earth into your home.

A geothermal heating system doesn't use combustible materials to heat your home like a gas or propane furnace does. Instead, it uses refrigerant to carry heat from one system component to the next. The compressor within the heat pump moves the refrigerant throughout the entire system.

In winter, the earth’s heat is absorbed by the ground loop and carried to the coaxial coil.  The inner coil contains the water from the ground loop, and the outer tube of the coil houses cold refrigerant. Through the walls of the coil, the heat from the ground loop’s water is passed to the refrigerant. Then, the refrigerant moves the heat to the compressor where it is pressurized. The pressure makes the refrigerant extremely hot.

Once the refrigerant is good and hot, it’s pumped through the air coil’s pipes and fins. When air is forced across the now-hot coil, heat is transferred into that air. A blower then moves the heated air through your duct system and into your home to heat the space.

Next, the refrigerant is moved to the expansion valve, where the pressure is low. The low pressure cools the refrigerant so it’s ready to move back to the coaxial coil. Once refrigerant returns to the coaxial coil, it is again ready to absorb the heat from water carried through the ground loop.

For cooling your home, the ground source heat pump simply works in reverse. Refrigerant will flow in the opposite direction and excess heat will be pulled from inside your home to be deposited back into the ground. This excess heat can also be used to heat water for your home.

Geothermal heating system installation and new construction

Are you planning to build a new home in the future? If so, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is how to heat and cool your home. Geothermal heating systems are efficient and environmentally friendly. New home construction is an ideal time to install a geothermal heating system.

Constructing a new home is the perfect time to install a geothermal system because of the ground loop that will need placed. While your building site is empty, it’s easy to lay the piping needed for the ground loop. When installing a geothermal heating system at an existing home, there are obstacles that must be worked around, such as the house itself, and landscaping that may have to be disturbed. With an unfinished site, the necessary components for the geothermal heating system can be placed before structures and landscaping are finished.

Choosing a geothermal heating system will provide you with great energy savings, above and beyond what can be achieved with high efficiency forced air heating and cooling equipment. The energy savings you’ll earn over the lifetime of your system can be reinvested into other items for your home, like upgraded fixtures and the other “wish list” items you've been wanting in a new home.

Installing a geothermal heating system will cost you more initially versus conventional oil or gas heating and cooling options. Don’t be put off by the price tag, as the energy savings this system will produce will allow it to pay for itself. Plus, your geothermal heating system installation will qualify you to receive a 30 percent tax credit, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. When you look at it that way, almost a third of the initial cost will be covered, which can take away some of the sticker shock for homeowners.