Geothermal Heat for Upstate NY
Sent to me by ArtCaLight
Most people think of geothermal energy as a form of energy that can only be used in certain geologically active areas and under special circumstances. But ground source heat pumps are a type of geothermal energy technology that can be utilized almost anywhere.
According to the California Energy Commission (CEC), the cost of a ground source heat pump can be cheaper than conventional systems if incorporated into the initial financing of the house. If added on afterwards, the cost is comparable to the average cost of a kitchen or bathroom renovation in the United States. What is more, an add-on geothermal heat pump will pay for itself over time in reduced utility costs.
The simple principle behind the efficiency of the ground source heat pump is that the temperature below the ground remains relatively constant no matter how extreme the surface air temperature is. This can be seen in caves and cellars. The temperature in Mammoth Cave in the United States, as reported by the National Park Service on the Mammoth Cave Web site, remains about 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) year round.
The CEC states that the temperature of the ground six feet below a house is likely to be between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 24 degrees Celsius), no matter whether the house is in Yakutsk, Russia or Bangkok, Thailand.
What this means is that the heat pump does not have to work very hard to cool off the air in the house in summer or heat it up in winter. As the house air passes through the system into the ground, the constant ground temperature provides 70 percent of the energy to operate the system, and this energy is "renewable," which means for the homeowner it is free.
Since they have no condensing units, geothermal heat pumps are also quiet relative to other heating and cooling (HVAC) technologies. Because most of the system is below the ground, it is not subject to weather damage. Other than the unit itself, the system has a conventional design for pumping air through the house. Surveys show that homeowners who have used them tend to like them and recommend them to others.
The CEC reports that the total upfront cost for installing a geothermal heating and cooling system could range from $17,500 to $37,500 for a "typically sized" home. But if the homeowner purchases an Energy Efficiency Mortgage, prior to installing the system, the system could actually save money from the start. Even in the absence of such financing, the system could end up paying for itself in energy savings within a few years.
Geothermal heat pumps are an underutilized technology in the US, but the CEC thinks this is mainly because most people are unaware of the benefits of owning one. If ground source heat pumps should become widespread, they could save consumers a considerable amount of money per year in energy bills and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Most people think of geothermal energy as a form of energy that can only be used in certain geologically active areas and under special circumstances. But ground source heat pumps are a type of geothermal energy technology that can be utilized almost anywhere.
According to the California Energy Commission (CEC), the cost of a ground source heat pump can be cheaper than conventional systems if incorporated into the initial financing of the house. If added on afterwards, the cost is comparable to the average cost of a kitchen or bathroom renovation in the United States. What is more, an add-on geothermal heat pump will pay for itself over time in reduced utility costs.
The simple principle behind the efficiency of the ground source heat pump is that the temperature below the ground remains relatively constant no matter how extreme the surface air temperature is. This can be seen in caves and cellars. The temperature in Mammoth Cave in the United States, as reported by the National Park Service on the Mammoth Cave Web site, remains about 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius) year round.
The CEC states that the temperature of the ground six feet below a house is likely to be between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (7 to 24 degrees Celsius), no matter whether the house is in Yakutsk, Russia or Bangkok, Thailand.
What this means is that the heat pump does not have to work very hard to cool off the air in the house in summer or heat it up in winter. As the house air passes through the system into the ground, the constant ground temperature provides 70 percent of the energy to operate the system, and this energy is "renewable," which means for the homeowner it is free.
Since they have no condensing units, geothermal heat pumps are also quiet relative to other heating and cooling (HVAC) technologies. Because most of the system is below the ground, it is not subject to weather damage. Other than the unit itself, the system has a conventional design for pumping air through the house. Surveys show that homeowners who have used them tend to like them and recommend them to others.
The CEC reports that the total upfront cost for installing a geothermal heating and cooling system could range from $17,500 to $37,500 for a "typically sized" home. But if the homeowner purchases an Energy Efficiency Mortgage, prior to installing the system, the system could actually save money from the start. Even in the absence of such financing, the system could end up paying for itself in energy savings within a few years.
Geothermal heat pumps are an underutilized technology in the US, but the CEC thinks this is mainly because most people are unaware of the benefits of owning one. If ground source heat pumps should become widespread, they could save consumers a considerable amount of money per year in energy bills and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Labels: article, Conserve, geothermal, heating
posted by Leslie at
10:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home