Residential geothermal energy basically uses the heat in the ground instead of a natural gas or electrically heated metal coil. The distance between the heating element and the exit points, generally the vents of the home's HVAC unit, is certainly further, but the ground takes no energy to warm. The heat pump is the only thing in the system that requires any time of energy to operate, and it uses a fraction of the energy of a central heating unit.

In many cases, residential home owners can eliminate the need for using their heaters altogether, saving them tons of money by not having to pay for any type of climate control throughout the winter months. Even if they cannot rely solely on geothermal heating, homeowners are able to subsidize a large portion of their energy usage, enabling them to rely less on the electric company, which is always a good thing. Not only will this save the homeowner money, but as hybrid plug-in vehicles and other devices that use a lot of energy become more and more prevalent, the strain on the power grid will only increase. Although no one really wants to seriously consider the possibility, having some sort of alternative heating should your city begin suffering brownouts in the winter would be very helpful.

In comparison to solar power, the most often cited type of power generation that can be used in the private home, geothermal prices are much less and provides a lot more power for each dollar spent. It is even possible to build a geothermal power plant deep within the ground for generating electricity, though technology has not yet advanced to the point that the average homeowner would even want to consider it, instead being satisfied with the relatively low costs of a geothermal piping system.

Each year, more residential homeowners install geo thermo heating units. Heat pumps are installed below ground. These pumps collect the radiant heat that is stored by the earth. The earth is extremely efficient at storing the heat generated by the sun's rays. When this stored energy is collected by heat pumps, it can easily be used to heat a residential home. The heat is transferred into the house from the pipes by means of forced air units. Geo thermo heating systems use no oil or outside energy source. You will be powering your home will free, renewable energy.

Most individuals elect to purchase eco-friendly heating units from companies that will also install the systems. If you live in a cold climate, installation can generally not be done during the winter because of the frozen ground. When you purchase your system, you will have the option of many different heat pumps. Generally, the size of your home will determine which pump is right for you. Your contractor should examine the site and help you make any decisions.

Purchasing an environmentally-friendly heating system for your home is an investment. You will save money each month during the winter. These heating units are also an investment in the earth. Because they use no oil and provide you with completely renewable energy, you will greatly reduce your family's environmental footprint. Installing thermal heating units in your lawn will both save your family money and help save the earth. Your family will benefit now from the money you save each month and they will benefit in the future from a cleaner, healthier environment.

Based in Indiana, Water Furnace has three types of geothermal heat pumps, suitable for various situations, as well as an all-in-one unit that is useful in all situations. Water Furnace intends for their pumps to replace both the AC compressor and the indoor furnace in their customers homes, saving them a claimed 70% on energy costs.

Based in Pennsylvania, ECR specializes in a certain type of geothermal energy production called direct exchange ground source. In this system, whose current generation has been around since 2000, the earth taps exchange the heat from within the ground, the compressor regulates the flow of the refrigerant, and there is an air handler that pushes the modified air into the home or office.

Econar has been around for a while, making geothermal heat pumps in Minnesota for over twenty years. Their pumps work especially well in cold climates, and are intended more to heat than cool, or transfer heat to the home instead of away. Other capabilities of Econar pumps include limited cooling, water heating, and de-humidification.

Since each company goes about geothermal energy in completely different ways, many parts are proprietary, meaning they will only work with that system in mind. The geothermal companies have not advanced to the point of directly competing, though when they do we are sure to see generic versions of pretty much everything they make. Although generic versions will certainly drive prices down, they also sometimes have issues with fitting and quality assurance. Until then, prices will remain high for some, but it is estimated that most geothermal systems pay for themselves within 5-10 years and, besides, the homeowner will spend far more money on the labor of digging and laying the equipment than on the parts themselves.

When talking about geothermal pricing, the best way to explain it may be just to say that it will be more expensive than a normal heating or cooling system. This can be a little deceiving too though, because although the initial cost of installation may be more expensive, the savings a household can see over time will be the true indicator of the actual cost of the system. Most geothermal heating systems will save 30 to 70 percent on heating costs and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs. Over the long run this could end up in some substantial savings and thus the initial installation cost is something that can be negated over time.

A good thing to do when looking for geothermal pricing is just what you would do with anything else. Shop around.
There are plenty of companies online you can check out and many of them will provide free quotes. Don't settle for just one offer. Since the factors affecting the price of installation are many one company may charge considerably less for a certain part of the job, like digging for instance, than another company would charge. This could have a great impact on the full price of the installation and only by checking around and finding estimates from various sources can you be sure to get the best geothermal pricing possible.

One way this geothermal heat is accessed is via pipes buried in the ground. These pipes are filled with antifreeze. This solution is used to transfer the heat to the heat exchanger unit. Typically, the pipes will be buried 6 feet under, where the temperature is an average of 55 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Depending on the terrain, the pipes can be straight, coiled, or somewhere in between.

Once at the heat exchanger, the warmth is removed from the pipes via a refrigerant. Due to compression and the added heat, this refrigerant can reach a surprisingly hot temperature—160 degrees. Air is then blown over the hot coils to bring that heat into the home.

Another way geo thermo heating systems can get heat is from a ground source water supply. With this method, pipes are dropped down specially-drilled well holes or into another source of water that’s about 55 degrees. From there, the water takes the warmth to the heat exchanger, which extracts the heat in the same way as for the other type of system. The cooled water is then sent back outside for discharge. Usually a special pond is used for this discharge water, but it can be released back into the ground as well, since it isn’t polluted by going through the pipes.

Geo thermo heating systems are very effective in many areas, and are far more efficient than traditional furnaces since they don’t have to burn anything to produce their heat. However, in very cold areas — such as the northern United States and all of Canada – it is likely that an older-style furnace will be needed for the coldest months. Even in those locations, a geothermal system can greatly lower fuel bills and fossil-fuel usage since it will be able to handle all the heating requirements for the warmer three seasons of the year.

Geothermal systems operate on the direct use of geothermal energy that is stored within the earth. This energy is present in the form of heat that is generated by both the sun and by the earth’s own core, which is then trapped within the earth itself. Geothermal heating and cooling systems essentially extract the heat from the ground by way of a series of closed loop or open loop heat exchanger coils located underground. The heat is then transferred to a heat pump, which then circulates the heat through either an air duct system or via radiant floor heating. When the home needs cooling, heat is removed and stored in the ground with a small portion used for producing hot water.

Homes with geothermal systems can be up to four times as efficient as homes with other forms of heating and cooling. Unlike homes heated with natural gas and heating oil, no combustible fuels are necessary, making these systems very environmentally friendly. Heating and cooling costs are also reduced, providing the household with substantial yearly savings. Unfortunately, these units can be very expensive. The entire system will most likely cost an average of $10,000 to $30,000 to install, requiring a long term outlook in order to recoup initial installation costs. There are a number of geothermal manufacturers available to consult with for those interested in installing a geothermal HVAC system, with more information available on the Internet for further research.

Econar, which is based in Minnesota, has been a geothermal heat pump manufacturer for more than twenty years. They specialize in “cold climate” heat pumps that are better at heating the home than cooling, though they are also capable of de-humidification, water heating, and limited cooling duties.

Water Furnace is based in Indiana and offers three different types of geothermal heat pumps, including the all-in-one that provides both heating and cooling. These pumps are designed to replace the indoor furnace and outdoor AC compressor, saving the customer up to 70% of their energy usage. They make pumps for both residential and commercial uses.

ECR Industries is based in Pennsylvania and specializes in direct exchange ground source systems. These systems include the source of the heat exchange with the ground, called the earth taps, a compressor that regulates the refrigerant's flow, and an air handler to transfer the air to the home or business. Their latest generation of pumps have been around since 2000.

Obviously not all geothermal energy systems are the same, and each geothermal heat pump manufacturer offers a completely different type of system that is generally compatible only with their pumps. There are very few generic parts available on the market yet. Although this often leads to better fitting and better quality control in general, it also means that prices can sometimes be higher than they have to be. As standards of geothermal energy arise, the prices of replacement parts and systems should begin to decline. As it is, the most expensive part of installing a geothermal energy system is the labor involved in the digging and placing of the components. Most contractors that are familiar with geothermal energy have a specific geothermal heat pump manufacturer that they prefer to use that is generally the most appropriate for the area in which they work.

The earth maintains an upper crust level temperature that ranges from 50 to 70 degrees all year around. By sinking pipes down into the ground and back up again, air can be circulated with the assistance of a heat pump. This air will take on the temperature of the surrounding earth as it passes throughout the pipe system. Use the heat pump to take hot air out of the home and it will cool down. This cooled air is then returned back into the home, eliminating the need for an expensive air conditioner.

The only power needed is that to run the heat pump and fans to circulate the air in the home. This is less costly than other systems, and is eco-friendly. No dangerous substances are produced and only air is required to achieve the desired temperature changes. Geothermal cooling systems are a little more costly to set up, but over a few short years that expense can be recouped with savings.

Installing a geothermal cooling and heating system is not a do-it-yourself job; it must be professionally installed because of the technical knowledge and equipment required. Routine maintenance is required, but long term costs are significantly less than other options. The technology is new, but some systems have been operational for 25 to 50 years and may last much longer.

Some electrical companies will offer those with ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems a discount because their usage allows the electric companies a break at high demand times of year. With geothermal cooling relieving the demand during peak summer cooling periods, the electrical companies may not have to build new plants to generate power. Governments also offer incentives for installing this type of system in the home.

The outdoor installation taps into the geothermal heat below the ground. A very deep hole needs to be dug several feet below the surface for the system to be installed. The indoor installation will be used for heating the home water system and the inside of the home. While these may be installed in new construction homes or an existing home, a building permit may be needed for installation in an existing residence.

Though the upfront cost of installation could be a little expensive, the savings on heating costs could be anywhere from 30 to 70 percent over the life of the system. This system also has the potential to save anywhere from 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs. Over time these savings could add up to a substantial amount of money, and the system can end up paying for itself within a short amount of time. Digging the underground loop system is the most expensive part of geothermal heat pump installation.

Other terms you might hear when people are talking about geothermal heat pumps are geoexchange, water source, earth energy, or earth-coupled heat pumps. Throughout the year underground temperatures are more stable than air temperatures, which is the basis of why geothermal heat pump installation is more energy efficient. These systems also have a high level of durability, as the ground loop should last for 50 or more years and the inside components will likely have a system life of at least 25 years.

Geothermal heat pump installation should be considered as a source of saving money and energy by anyone interested in achieving these goals.

Geo thermo systems, or ground source heat pumps, are attached to a building to take advantage of the deep water wells. Like an energy savings account, they deposit or withdraw heat, depending on the season.

During summertime, the system pumps heat underground and uses the lower temperature of the earth to cool. In the winter, the process is reversed, with underground heat being used to warm a building. Hot and cool air are distributed evenly throughout the house, without hot spots or cold spots. Ground-source heat pumps are one of the most cost effective and efficient ways to regulate the temperature in a home. Geo thermal systems use almost half the electricity than conventional heating and cooling systems, and maintenance cost is also considerably less.

The cost of a geo thermal energy system varies, but for an average house of 2000 square feet, the expense would be between $14,000 to $18,000. Since the systems save approximately fifty percent in utility cost, the payback for this initial outlay is five years.

There are further savings for using geo thermo energy. The tax credit cap on thermal energy systems of $2000 has been lifted. Home owners purchasing such a system qualify for a 30 percent rebate on their investment through the year 2016.

Geo Thermo heating and cooling systems are considered the world’s greenest and most efficient. Nothing is burned to create heat, and no carbons or pollutants are released into the air.

For a heating and cooling system as old as the Romans and as new as the twenty-first century, geo thermo systems are fast becoming the most popular way to heat and cool a house.