Six reasons why geoexchange makes sense -
1. You Will Save Money on your Heating and Cooling Bills
Geoexchange systems operate at efficiencies of 300 – 400% while the best gas furnaces may only reach efficiencies of 95% or so. This is because geoexchange systems deliver 4 units of energy for every 1 unit of electrical energy consumed. It's not magic - just the physical properties of heat exchange technology. Therefore, your energy bills can be reduced significantly. Savings of 30 – 70% are typical. And with these savings, you can recover the cost of your geoexchange investment over a relatively short period of time, generally within 5 – 10 years.
2. You Will Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Have a Safer Home
Unlike fossil fuel based heating and cooling systems, geoexchange is not a combustion based technology and therefore does produce on-site carbon emissions. This also means that you will not have to worry about generating potentially deadly carbon monoxide fumes in your home.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Geothermal Technologies, nearly 40% of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are the result of using energy to heat, cool and provide hot water for buildings. This is about the same amount of CO2 contributed by the transportation sector.
A typical 3-ton residential geoexchange system produces an average of about one pound less CO2 per hour of use than a conventional system. Collectively, geoexchange systems currently help to remove more than 1.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere every year.
3. Your Maintenance Costs Will be Lower
Geoexchange systems are known for their low maintenance requirements and high reliability. Since the heat pump equipment is housed inside, it is not subject to damage by weather, sun exposure or vandalism.
4. You Can Increase the Value of Your Home
The National Association of Realtors Appraisal Journal estimated that a home's value increases by $10 to $25 for every $1 reduction in utility bills. Using a geoexchange system is a smart way to build equity!
5. You Can Enjoy Quieter Barbecues
Since there are no above ground outdoor components, you won’t have a noisy air conditioner to contend with for outdoor get-togethers. Similar to a refrigerator, geoexchange systems operate quietly.
6. Your Investment Will Last a Long Time
The heat pump component of a geoexchange system is usually good for 15+ years, while the ground loop component is typically warranted for 50 years. Few other heating/cooling systems can offer this type of dependability.
