You can reduce your heating costs by installing ground source heat pumps. It can be used either in industrial, residential or commercial buildings. It is not only efficient for heating or cooling, but it can also be used for supplying essential hot water. If your building is properly insulated, and your GHS pump is properly installed, you can easily realize savings of over 60%, when compared to systems that heat with the burning of fossil fuels of oil and natural gas.
The prices of fossil fuels are expected to continue rising as sources are being depleted and demand out-paces the supply. Governments are also enacting stricter standards for the reduction in emission of carbon and greenhouse gases. Incentives such as the renewable heat energy program, is expected to make installation of Ground source heat pumps even more attractive. There are very few operating parts to the heat pump, which makes it easier and cheaper to maintain, and it can last considerably longer than boilers.
The operating principal of ground-source heat pumps is not very complicated. The pumps transfer free heat energy that is stored in the ground, to heat the building. When cooling, the system works in reverse, where the heat is taken out of the building and transferred to the loops that run underground.
The installation requires some holes to be dug to about 10 feet below the ground surface, where loops that contain refrigerant, or heat-absorbent liquids are buried in the exterior of the property. The amount of heat needed depends on the size of the home and how well it is insulated. A typical home would normally require 1-3 geothermal holes, to supply the required amount of geothermal energy. Holes and trenches are usually dug with a 10 meter separation, and are usually dug to about 10 meters below the surface, but depend on the geography and geology of the location.
Because of the competitive nature of the business, the prices of the installations can vary with the regions, but generally they will cost more than conventional HVAC systems. Returns may also differ by region, but there should be some installations in your area that can be used for comparison. The expected return should be simple to calculate, and you can easily get information from your utility company.
One of the important factors in estimating the return is the type and source of energy that is being replaced energy. Normal returns on the investment can be noticed in 2-4 years. It may be even shorter if your boiler uses electricity as the energy source. The longest period for your return, will come from replacing boilers that are powered by natural gas, as it is still one of the relatively inexpensive sources of energy.
There are rebates and credits available for installing ground-source heat pumps. They may be available with local or municipal programs, or from the utility companies. These discounts and credits can easily accelerate the pace at which you cover the return on your investment. After your investment has been paid off, you are then free to enjoy the savings on your energy costs, as well as knowing that you are reducing your carbon footprint with less emission to the damage the environment.
