Why should I invest in geothermal heating in my home?

[AlternativeEnergy.com]

Geothermal heating is not a new technology; in fact, it has been used since Ancient Roman times to provide heat and comfort to homes, buildings, and spas. Traditionsl geothermal heat takes advantage of the natural sources of underground hot water flows that allow the hot water to be distributed among the buildings near the source to provide a free heating and hot water source. Two cities in the United States take advantage of their natural geothermal sources already: Klamath Falls, Oregon and Boise, Idaho.



If you don't live in a city with naturally occurring geothermal heat, there are still options available. In fact, more than 250,000 homes have been retrofitted with geothermal energy solutions in the past five years. A geothermal heat pump is an alternative energy solution that mimics natural geothermal sources. Using the same basic idea of a refrigerator (the coils on the back of the fridge that keep the unit cold), the coils are buried either vertically or horizontally under the ground, mimicking a natural underground hot water flow. By using the earth's naturally more stable temperature (compared to the air above the ground), a great deal less energy can be used to heat or cool the fluid in the coils to provide both heat and hot water for your home.


As with most alternative energy solutions, geothermal energy is becoming cost-effective enough to be an affordable option for most homeowners. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the savings for homeowners are significant; homeowners can cut their heating bill by more than 65% and cut their cooling bill in half. The unit will normally pay for itself within two years.

Geothermal systems are safe – for your home and for the environment and they are extremely efficient, using a sustainable and renewable energy source. Because they do not burn fuel to produce heat, they produce much less in carbon dioxide emissions than forced air and natural gas furnaces. They simply use a small amount of electricity to operate the pump to move the heat through the system. While they are not as ecologically friendly as solar energy alternatives, they are an excellent choice to consider.


When considering a geothermal unit, be sure to make sure it meets Energy STAR standards; this will ensure that whatever tax credits might be available for installing alternative energy solutions will be available to you. New incentives were made available as of October 2008, including a tax credit of up to $2000. You can check the Energy STAR rating of any alternative energy solution you choose by going to www.energystar.gov and find out more about tax credits you may be eligible for by visiting the Department of Energy at www.energy.gov.