Are you planning to build a new home in the future? If so, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is how to heat and cool your home. Geothermal heating systems are efficient and environmentally friendly. New home construction is an ideal time to install a geothermal heating system.

Constructing a new home is the perfect time to install a geothermal system because of the ground loop that will need placed. While your building site is empty, it’s easy to lay the piping needed for the ground loop. When installing a geothermal heating system at an existing home, there are obstacles that must be worked around, such as the house itself, and landscaping that may have to be disturbed. With an unfinished site, the necessary components for the geothermal heating system can be placed before structures and landscaping are finished.

Choosing a geothermal heating system will provide you with great energy savings, above and beyond what can be achieved with high efficiency forced air heating and cooling equipment. The energy savings you’ll earn over the lifetime of your system can be reinvested into other items for your home, like upgraded fixtures and the other “wish list” items you’ve been wanting in a new home.

Installing a geothermal heating system will cost you more initially versus conventional oil or gas heating and cooling options. Don’t be put off by the price tag, as the energy savings this system will produce will allow it to pay for itself. Plus, your geothermal heating system installation will qualify you to receive a 30 percent tax credit, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. When you look at it that way, almost a third of the initial cost will be covered, which can take away some of the sticker shock for homeowners.

When you choose a geothermal heat system to provide heating and cooling for your home, did you know you can also get free hot water? A desuperheater can be used with your geothermal heat pump to capture heat from the compressor, which is then modified for use in water heating. With greater efficiency and the added hot water bonus, who could pass up the value and utility of a geothermal heat system?

Using your geothermal heat system to also heat hot water provides significant cost savings. You won’t have to rely so much on that electric, natural gas, or propane water heater, so you’ll save on energy costs. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, homeowners who use geothermal for their hot water needs find that hot water generation can cost about 80 percent less versus traditional water heating methods.

Excess heat is created by the geothermal heat pump in both heating and cooling modes, though more is produced through cooling because you’re trying to get rid of the heat, not bring more inside. Rather than depositing the heat from your home into the earth through the ground loop, that heat can be used to heat your water instead, allowing you to utilize that heat waste. Using a desuperheater in the summertime can create most or even all of the hot water you need around the house. During the other season, the desuperheater will still provide some of the hot water you need, but you’ll still need to use your primary water heating method.

If you have questions about geothermal heat systems or using a desuperheater for your hot water needs, give us a call. The geothermal experts at Smith Sustainable Design are available to answer all your system and equipment questions. If you’re thinking of installing a geothermal heat system, consider adding a desuperheater to further maximize efficiency and energy savings at home.

When it comes time to choose a geothermal heat pump system for your home, which brand do you trust? Over one million homeowners in American have chosen ClimateMaster for their system’s needs. Learn more about ClimateMaster and see why their products make a great fit for your home.

ClimateMaster heat pump systems are extremely efficient. Versus conventional heating and cooling methods, their equipment is 400 to 600 percent efficient! With conventional high efficiency equipment, the best you’ll get is around 95 percent efficiency. With 4 to 6 times the efficiency of conventional heating and cooling methods, ClimateMaster heat pump systems offer savings of up to 80 percent on energy bills.

Heat pump systems by ClimateMaster are built to last. Their products are extremely durable and have a life expectancy of over 20 years- much longer than most traditional heating and cooling systems. Plus, their maintenance needs are very little.

ClimateMaster heat pump systems also offer the convenience of home cooling, so there is no need for separate air conditioning equipment. You will save on expensive cooling costs in the summer without an electric air conditioner. Plus, you won’t see those high gas bills in the winter, or have to worry about propane delivery!

When you choose a ClimateMaster heat pump system for your home, you’re also benefiting the environment. These high efficiency systems severely cut down your home’s use of fossil fuels and electricity, so your home contributes less carbon emissions. With geothermal heat pump systems, nearly all of the energy needed to heat and cool your home is renewable.

Smith Sustainable Design installs ClimateMaster heat pump systems for homeowners and businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Contact us today to learn more about how these great products can improve your home comfort.

When you install a geothermal heating and cooling system at your home or business locations, you’ll receive a big payback. Geothermal systems offer many benefits that traditional heating and cooling methods do not. The price you pay to upgrade to geothermal will surely result in a big payback to you.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are tried and true. This method of heating has actually been around for thousands of years! It is often viewed as a new technology, and while it has been perfected over the years by advancing technology, geothermal has been heating and cooling homes and businesses for longer than you may realize.

Other methods of heating and cooling don’t really pay you back. While upgrading to more energy efficient equipment promises energy savings, the improvement to your utility bills isn’t as drastic as you think. Geothermal heating and cooling systems cut energy bills by up to 80 percent- you’ll definitely notice that decrease on your monthly utility statements. These mechanical systems also have more moving parts compared to geothermal systems, and can require more maintenance and repairs, which ends up costing you more than a geothermal heat pump.

Old furnaces and air conditioners don’t always pay you back in improved comfort. Forced air systems can be noisy and can detract from the peace and serenity you’re trying to achieve inside your home. Plus, this forced air method falls short in providing consistent, even heating and cooling throughout your home- you can blame it for that one room that’s always too hot or too cold. Geothermal heating and cooling systems offer quitter operation and consistent temperatures throughout your living space.

By using a geothermal heating and cooling system, you’ll receive the payback of clean energy. You won’t be burning dirty fossil fuels and coal to create the energy your system needs- geothermal uses clean, natural energy straight from the earth! So you’ll be doing you part to help the environment while staying comfortable inside your home.

There are many costs associated with maintaining and running your household. Keeping your home in order can be expensive. Creating the perfect home can be even more costly. Control your home comfort with a heat pump system.

The price of energy is a major contributor to the cost of maintaining a home. Gas, oil, and electricity prices are always fluctuating, and usually not in your favor. When your home’s comfort systems depend on these fuels for operation, you are at the mercy of your utility providers and have very little control over the cost of your comfort.

Improving the efficiency of these fuel consuming systems is one way you can try to reduce energy costs. Upgrading to newer, more efficient equipment may reduce your energy bills, but is it making that big of a difference for you? These types of upgrades typically offer noticeable improvements in utility consumption, but what if you could do better?

Switching to a heat pump system can drastically reduce your household’s energy consumption, making your comfort much more affordable! Using geothermal energy, a heat pump can heat and cool your home and even heat your water, while using renewable natural energy that is free!

With heat pump systems, homeowners can achieve heating and cooling efficiencies of 400 to 600 percent. Upgrades to an energy efficient gas furnace model can only offer about 95 percent efficiency at best. Upgrading to heat pump systems can save homeowners up to 80 percent on their monthly heating and cooling expenses, which is enough to really make a difference.

Take control of your utility usage and expenses. Control your home comfort with a new heat pump system. For quality equipment, installation, and service of your new heat pump system, contact Smith Sustainable Design today.

Your home’s HVAC system should be a top priority when it’s time to upgrade, update, or build a new home. Hot water, heating and cooling contribute to about 70 percent of your home’s energy usage, so choosing the right system to handle these needs can yield great savings. Some options can do little to save you energy, and may even increase your utility bills if they are not right for your home.

Geothermal heat systems are an excellent choice for most homeowners. What’s great about these systems is that they offer an efficiency of 400 to 600 percent- try and get that from a gas or oil furnace. Plus, installing a geothermal heat system will allow you to take advantage of the 30 percent federal tax credit. When you install a geothermal heat pump, you may even be able to take advantage of state and local programs which reward homeowners for choosing energy efficient appliances.

Geothermal heat systems can provide many comforts beyond heating. In summer months, your heat pump will reverse to cool your home- no air conditioning unit needed! Depending on the configuration of your system, hot water and floor heating can also be provided by this single system. With one efficient system doing all the work, you’ll open the door to energy savings all year long.

Choosing a geothermal heat system for your home is a green choice. With the power to reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 70 percent, you’ll also be reducing your home’s contribution to carbon emissions by replacing your old gas and oil powered systems. For homeowners looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional heating and cooling methods, geothermal heat systems are a smart choice.

Geothermal heat systems don’t take up a lot of space. You don’t need a large yard to have a ground loop installed. Plus, the heat pump equipment won’t consume a lot of space inside your home. The underground and indoor installation will also protect you from weather damage, theft, and vandalism.

Homeowners today are looking for alternatives to make their home a greener place. From using recycled building materials to choosing energy-efficient appliances, there are many ways to green a home. Installing a geothermal heating system is a significant step for homeowners, and one of the most environmentally friendly steps which can be taken, in the journey towards going green.

Geothermal heating systems use natural energy to heat and cool and home, not fossil fuels. Solar energy which hits the Earth’s surface every day is absorbed into the ground. A geothermal heating system taps into that energy. Using this energy source is very environmentally friendly, because fossil fuels are not burned and greenhouse gases are not emitted during the heating process.

While geothermal heating systems use natural energy, they also use this energy more efficiently. The temperature below ground stays at approximately 54 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, so the heat pump doesn’t use more energy to compensate for temperature fluctuations. Air source heat pumps use energy from the air outdoors, which as we know, can vary greatly even over the course of a day.

With these energy saving features, homeowners who have a geothermal heating system installed also save money. The average household benefits from energy savings of approximately 70 percent. Plus, water heating expenses can also be saved, as geothermal heating systems can be configured to provide hot water, too. A geothermal heating system allows you to use less energy for three of the major energy expenders in your home: heating, cooling, and water heating.

Choosing a geothermal heating system will help your home become a much greener place. Heating and cooling alone accounts for about 50 percent of the average home’s energy use- doesn’t this seem like the perfect place to start?

Geothermal heat systems can be installed in existing homes. Often times, they are a great alternative to oil, propane, or natural gas. When it’s time to replace your current heating system, switching to geothermal can definitely help you save.

Homeowners who switch from oil, propane, or natural gas to a geothermal heating system are overall very pleased with the results. Besides from just heating your home, a geothermal heating system also offers cooling and  hot water assist, which can further reduce your costs. The hot water assist package can save homeowners about 60 percent on their domestic water heating. In the wintertime, geothermal heat systems offer comfortable, even heat throughout the home.

When switching to a geothermal heat system, your home may require a few alterations to maximize the efficiency of the new system. For instance, duct work will be evaluated and may be sealed to prevent air leaks which reduce the efficiency of the new system. Upgrades may need to be made to your electrical service to ensure the load created by the ground source heat pump can be handled.

When it’s time to replace your current heating system, consider replacing it with a geothermal heat system. Smith Sustainable Design can show you how switching to geothermal heat can be a benefit to your comfort and your wallet.

Often during the hot summer months, New Jersey and Pennsylvania may go without rain for a period of time, creating drought conditions. While the brown grass is an obvious sign that the ground is dry, underground water levels are also subsiding. Lowered underground water levels affect the steady underground temperatures your geothermal heating and cooling system depend on to keep your home cool during the summer. Homeowners with horizontal loops which are not buried deep into the ground and those with inappropriately sized systems may experience cooling troubles during these dry periods.

When systems are undersized, there aren’t enough loops to exchange heat in the ground, which hurts during these dry times. More loops could be placed, but this investment would be pretty great just to solve a problem that only affects a home during extreme weather periods that aren’t typical.

Luckily, extreme droughts don’t seem to damage geothermal heating and cooling systems- they only affect their power to sufficiently cool the home. Your system has controls which will shut down if conditions that are too extreme for operation are detected. If this happens, simply call the installer to come check components such as water flow and refrigerant levels to ensure the system is in good condition.

Picking a quality geothermal heating and cooling system installer to do your initial installation and system design can help you combat the possibility of being affected during times of drought. The qualified installers at Smith Sustainable Design take these factors into consideration when designing your system to ensure you’ll receive optimal cooling when you need it. We’ll discuss the proper placement of ground loops and whether.

From hurricanes to hail storms and snow storms, New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents see their fair share of inclement weather. Outdoor HVAC components, like traditional air conditioner units, can be ravaged by bad storms. Flooding can cause underground fuel tanks used in heating to rise. The storms we experience can do a number on this equipment, rendering it useless or in need of expensive repairs.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a storm proof choice. Components are buried underground and housed inside your home. They are not subjected to harsh outdoor elements like other equipment is.

After Hurricane Sandy, many homeowners in New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas began searching for information about geothermal heating and cooling systems. These homeowners had experienced major losses and were looking for alternatives to protect their heating and cooling systems from weather damage. Often times, homeowners were considering a switch to geothermal heating and cooling systems before damage was incurred, and decide to make the jump when their old equipment is damaged beyond repair.

The rise in geothermal heating and cooling system installations in the area poses great benefits to the homes and buildings where they are being added. The protected components will save owners money in the long run, sparing damage expenses and insurance damage claims. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are also reducing the emissions of the buildings where they are installed. With over 40 percent of the world’s energy use being consumed by buildings, geothermal heating and cooling systems are substantially lowering the amount of energy needed to fuel the heating and cooling needs.

If you’re looking for an HVAC alternative that can stand up even to the toughest weather conditions, consider a geothermal heating and cooling system. Smith Sustainable Design is an experienced geothermal heating and cooling system installer who can provide additional details of their benefits for your application.