While considering the world of geothermal heating and cooling systems, it is important to identify the facts from general assumptions. Many people believe in some false concepts related to the geothermal heating and cooling technology.  You must learn about the typical myths and facts about geothermal heating and cooling systems to make a wise decision about the selection of heating system for your home or business. Here we combined few common misconceptions about geothermal heating and cooling technology.

Geothermal heating systems are not appropriate in extreme winters

No matter how cold it is above the ground, temperature few feet below the surface of the earth remains constant at 54 degrees. A geothermal heating and cooling system extracts that constant underground heat to keep your indoors warm. So even in the coldest days there should be no problem at all for a geothermal heating systems to keep your home at a comfortable temperature making use of geothermal energy.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems need backup heat

Many homeowners prefer to install geothermal heating and cooling systems along with an addition of new or already existing backup heat source. A geothermal heating and cooling system of proper size can cover the heat load of your home quite comfortably so there is no need for any backup heat source.

Smaller property cannot manage geothermal heating and cooling system

There is another false opinion that geothermal heating and cooling systems are only for big lots. Design of a geothermal heating technology is flexible which can be adjusted according to the size of your home. Many people relate proper installation of geothermal heating and cooling system with the type of soil or terrain of their lands, but this idea doesn't make sense. All such obstacles and doubts could be dealt with if you are consulting qualified team of geothermal design and installation, like Smith Sustainable Design.

Only new homes can accommodate geothermal heating and cooling systems

You are not required to build a new home, in order to install geothermal heating and cooling system. Retrofitting geothermal heating system in your existing house is as common and convenient as integrating the system during construction. If you are looking for upgrading or replacing your typical heating or cooling system for your home or business, geothermal heating and cooling system makes the best option.

Geothermal heating and cooling system is are new technology

There is another incorrect notion that we cannot rely on geothermal heating and cooling systems because they are new and not trusted. Early Native Americans found an attractive location to settle in North America because of the naturally occurring geothermal hot springs there. Geothermal heating and cooling pumps were first designed and executed in the 1940's, to make use of the underground heat to maintain a comfortable temperature in homes and buildings. With  time, the concepts of geothermal energy has advanced and improved in efficiency.

Contact Smith Sustainable Design based in PA and NJ for a reliable information and advice about geothermal heating and cooling systems. With the help of facts, we will eliminate your doubts about geothermal heating systems helping you to decide best geothermal system for your home. 

Due to the climate change and other environmental issues, many homeowners and business owners prefer to use environmental friendly systems to reduce the harmful impacts on the environment. Very often we hear about the “green” products in the market that are supposed to have none or a little harmful impact on the environment during the cycle of their production to disposal. Geothermal heating system in terms of “green” is the most environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient system out of all other green products and systems.

In the United States, use of fossil fuels is very common for the purpose of heating and cooling, in a home and business. In order to maintain a comfortable temperature in your indoors, it requires almost 50 percent of the total energy consumption of an average home. Fossil fuels that are commonly used to provide heat to your home require more energy and are less efficient as compared to the geothermal heating system. Use of fossil fuels for heating purpose not only wastes valuable non-renewable resources, but it also results in damage to the environment.

Geothermal heating systems need much lesser energy than a furnace or other heating systems thus have the highest positive impacts on the environment. There are no burning of fossil fuels involved in the case of geothermal heat pumps. This system utilizes natural energy present within the earth's interior to provide heat to your home or office. Overall operation of geothermal heat pumps needs energy of the earth and electricity, making the working of heat pumps free of any combustion and unsafe byproducts such as greenhouse gases. Geothermal heating systems use a larger percentage of natural geothermal energy for the operation instead of electricity, which makes it possible to lower the energy consumption by conserving electricity.

Because of their high efficiency almost half of the world’s direct geothermal usage is associated with geothermal heating systems. The efficiency of geothermal heat pump systems is higher than the other available green products and systems so they are more effective in reducing harmful environmental impacts. You can make your home environmental friendly and truly “green” by installing geothermal heating system. These systems will help you to reduce your carbon footprint and save your money for any other heating or cooling system. For more information on Geothermal heating systems, call Smith Sustainable Design based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Previously we were discussing some benefits of geothermal heat pump systems. In this second part, we will consider some additional benefits of geothermal heat pump systems. Many homeowners install geothermal heating systems to lower their energy consumption and energy expenses. This properties of a heat pump makes them a wise option for your home and the environment.

Geothermal Heating Systems are Energy Efficient

The energy requirement, of a geothermal heat pump systems, is significantly lower than a gas and oil  furnace. Even the other type of heat pumps like the air source heat pumps require more energy to operate as compared to the geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are more energy-efficient than any other heating and cooling systems so, they are more effective in reducing your energy bills. A geothermal heating and cooling system's high efficiency and low operating cost makes it possible to pay back your investment in a geothermal heat pumps installations in few years.

Free Hot Water with Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Hot water is a need of every home for many purposes such as laundry, shower, dish washing, and other. Geothermal heat pumps facilitate your hot water demand providing hot water for your home along with maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors in every season. Geothermal heat pumps extract heat from the earth and transfer the surplus heat in your hot water tank. A geothermal heat pumps can lower your hot water bills by producing hundreds of gallons of free hot water each year.

Geothermal Heat Pumps are Environmental Friendly

If you want to keep your environment safe and healthy, you must consider a geothermal heat pumps over the other heating systems. Efficiency of geothermal systems is extremely high about 500 percent in extreme winters. It will require less energy to operate geothermal heat pumps to keep your home warm in winters and cool in summers. Due to the smaller energy need, geothermal heating systems do not have harmful impacts on the environment as compared to a gas or oil furnace, which emits hazardous gases polluting the environment. 

Contact Smith Sustainable Design today, if you want to install ideal heating system for your home receiving several advantages accosted with it. You can take advantage of keeping the temperature of your home comfortable with highly efficient, environmentally safe, and durable geothermal heating pump systems. 

Geothermal heating pump system are the most energy-efficient and environmental friendly way of providing heat to your home. Homeowners can get several benefits from the geothermal heating systems. In typical heating systems for your home, fossil fuels are burnt in the gas or oil furnaces that emit toxic gases causing serious harm to the environment and health of the people. One of the benefits of geothermal heating systems is that it prevents you to put your environment and health at risk by depending on fossil fuels. The system maintains comfortable temperature for your home in winter and summer in an environmental friendly way.

Installing A Geothermal Heat Pump in any Building

No matter if you are planning for a new home or have already lived in your home for years, you can take advantage of installing a geothermal heating pump in your home. In case of a new home, you can easily configure a geothermal heat pump design in the beginning of the construction of your home. For an already built home, a geothermal heating system can be retrofitted without carrying out significant modifications in your structure. Geothermal heating systems also cab require lesser occupied space than a furnace so you may use that space for other needs.

Highly Comfortable Heating System

Geothermal heat pump systems help take care of the user’s satisfaction other than just providing a comfortable temperature for your home. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, geothermal heating systems produce less operating noise, which makes you feel relaxed. The system also maintains the humidity level in your home, which makes your place more comfortable throughout the year.

Long-lasting Heating System

Geothermal heat pump systems are highly durable as compared to the typical furnace having expected life of about 12 years on average. On the other hand, geothermal heat pump lasts as long as 20 year or more. The underground loop system of heat pumps is also designed and constructed in such a way to serve for many years. Geothermal heat pump systems can be easily maintained to increase their efficiency and durability. You can improve the service life of heat pump systems by regular maintenance. 

When you’re investing in new heating and cooling equipment for your home, one of the deciding factors will probably be cost. The cost of installation and energy is a top concern for many homeowners. Before choosing a ground source heat pump, you’ll want to know all the costs associated with installation and operation.

The cost of installing a ground source heat pump will vary from site to site. Different homes have different needs, varying heating and cooling loads, and type of earth loop available to the site, which will all factor into the final price. The heating and cooling loads can be effected by the size of the house and how well it is insulated. The yard size will determine  whether a horizontal or vertical earth loop can be installed. An open loop earth loop will new special township or county approval.

The federal government as well as many state and local programs offer incentives which can cut down the cost of installing a ground source heat pump for homeowners. With the federal tax credit alone, you may be eligible to receive up to 30 percent of the cost of installation back. Don’t count on these incentives unless you meet the qualifications. It’s best to call and verify your installation will be eligible before installing to avoid any surprises later.

Homeowners can also estimate how much it will cost to operate their new ground source heat pump ahead of time. Consider your home’s heating and cooling demand, and the efficiency of the ground source heat pump you’ll be installing. If you need help determining operation costs or your payback period, or to learn more about installing a ground source heat pump for your home, contact Smith Sustainable Design today.

Geothermal heat pump systems are ideal for use in most homes due to their extreme efficiency and use of natural energy to heat and cool living spaces. When choosing a geothermal heat pump for your home, there are two different options which may be suitable for your application. Residential geothermal heat pump systems can be either water-to-water or water-to air heat pumps.

Water-to-water geothermal heat pump systems

A water-to-water geothermal heat pump system is used for radiant heating and cooling; domestic hot water; pool conditioning; ice and snow melt. They can be used in place of gas or oil furnaces which may be used in the home for heating water and indoor living spaces. These heat pumps work at their highest efficiency when the temperature variance between the ground and the heat sink inside the home is minimal.

A water-to-water geothermal heat pump can also be used to heat your home’s hot water. Many new geothermal heat pumps are equipped with desuperheaters, which allows excess heat from the compressor to be transferred to the domestic water heater. Using a geothermal heat pump is an effective, efficient way to provide for all your home’s heating needs.

Water-to-air geothermal heat pump systems

A water-to-air geothermal heat pump system is used for forced air heating and cooling a home and domestic hot water. These heat pumps use water as a heat sink, or the location where heat is rejected from inside the house. The air is then distributed in the home through the duct system. They function in the same manner as the water-to-water heat pumps.

To make your home’s geothermal heat pump system more efficient, you can take a few simple steps. Start by cutting your home’s heating and cooling requirements. This can be done through insulation as well as using windows for solar heat gain during colder months.

If you’re considering a geothermal heat pump system for your home, consult the professionals at Smith Sustainable Design. We can help you by designing an appropriate system to meet your home’s requirements.

Heat pumps have been around for decades, and the technology has been improving ever since. Geothermal heating systems are considered one of the most effective and efficient methods for heating and cooling homes and businesses. With efficiencies of over 500% in some models, they can reduce home energy consumption by up to 75 percent while cutting carbon emissions by 70 percent or more.

Despite all the advantages they offer, geothermal heating systems aren’t as widely used as conventional heating and cooling methods. The reasons behind this concern upfront costs, lack of knowledge about the systems, and inconsistent incentive initiatives. In the last few years, the federal government has been pushing tax credits for homeowners installing geothermal heating systems, which have allowed many more homeowners to take advantage of this efficient heating and cooling technology in their homes.

Geothermal heating systems perform better than air source heat pumps. While the air outside fluctuates in temperature, the ground below us remains at a steady temperature all year long. The lack of temperature variation in the heat source used by geothermal heating systems makes them more than twice as efficient compared to air source heat pumps.

Yes, geothermal heating systems are more expensive to install. They don’t just consist of the equipment you see in your home or outside like conventional forced air heating and cooling systems have. There is also the ground loop component which is comprised of hundreds of feet of pipes buried underground. The ground loop works with the heat pump to absorb and circulate heat from the earth up into your home.

The performance of your home’s geothermal heating system will depend on a few factors. First, the climate will play a role in determining your home’s heating demand. Second, the heating fuels you geothermal heating system is replacing will also play a role, as some fuels and heating equipment are more efficient than others, and more expensive. Replacing expensive heating fuels with a geothermal heating system will result in greater energy and monetary savings versus lower cost fuels.

Geothermal heat systems are an excellent option for homeowners looking to heat and cool their homes efficiently and affordably. They are not usually found in homes as often as gas and oil heating and electric cooling equipment, so not all homeowners know about their advantages. If you’re not familiar with geothermal, it’s easy to believe some of the myths floating around about these systems. Get the facts instead and don’t buy into the myths about geothermal heating systems.


Myth: Geothermal heat systems aren't a renewable technology

Some people think that because these systems use a small amount of electricity, they are not a true renewable system. The truth is, a geothermal system moves up to 5 times the amount of heating and cooling for every unit of electricity they use. How’s that for efficiency?

Myth: You need a lot of space to install a geothermal heat system

The earth loop utilized by the geothermal system doesn't always have to be installed horizontally, covering a large area. In some installations, the loop can be laid vertically. This option makes it easy to install a geothermal heat system on a site with restricted space.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems are loud

One of the pluses to installing a geothermal heat system is the quiet operation. The heat pump component of the geothermal heat system is installed inside, so your neighbors wouldn't be affected even if it was noisy.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems only heat your home

A geothermal heat system can also provide cooling for your home, no need for two types of equipment. During the summer months, its process is reversed to remove warm air from your home and deposit it back into the earth.

Myth: Geothermal heat systems are too expensive

With the incentives available to homeowners installing geothermal heat systems, they may not be much more expensive than conventional heating and cooling systems. Plus, your geothermal heat system continues to pay you back as you use it with increased energy savings for your household.

The sun’s energy is useful for generating electricity for your home. It’s also useful for heating and cooling, but not through the use of solar panel collectors. Geothermal heating and cooling systems also make use of the sun’s free energy using different collection methods. Ground loop components actually absorb heat caused by the sun from within the earth to heat your home, and deposit heat back into the earth for cooling.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems offer the highest level of energy savings compared to any home system. With geothermal, you can save as much as 70 percent on heating and cooling costs. This savings is made possible through the use of the sun’s energy stored within the earth, rather than fossil fuels.

Even when temperatures outside fluctuate, geothermal provides steady heating and cooling. It doesn’t matter what the outside temperature is, because the temperature below ground always remains at a constant level. Usually, this temperature is between 50 and 55 degrees year round.

For heating purposes, geothermal heating and cooling systems offer the best return on your heating dollars. They are able to produce about 5 dollars’ worth of heat for every dollar spent for electricity. Even the most high efficiency furnace can’t do that. In fact, the best a high efficiency furnace can do is give you back about 98 cents’ worth of heating for every dollar spent on heating fuels; not much of a payback, is it?

For cooling, central air conditioners and air source heat pumps drop in efficiency as outdoor temperatures climb, which is typically when you want and need cooling the most. A geothermal heating and cooling system is much more efficient. Typically, they more than double the efficiency you’ll find with air source heat pumps and central air conditioners.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems don’t have exposed outdoor components. Everything you need is either below ground or housed within your home. Central air conditioners and air source heat pumps have outdoor components, leaving them vulnerable to damage, vandalism, and theft.

Many people know that geothermal heat systems use the earth’s heat to provide heating for the home, but may be unsure of how this is achieved. The answer is simple: a heat pump. The system utilizes a ground source heat pump to move heat from within the earth into your home.

A geothermal heating system doesn't use combustible materials to heat your home like a gas or propane furnace does. Instead, it uses refrigerant to carry heat from one system component to the next. The compressor within the heat pump moves the refrigerant throughout the entire system.

In winter, the earth’s heat is absorbed by the ground loop and carried to the coaxial coil.  The inner coil contains the water from the ground loop, and the outer tube of the coil houses cold refrigerant. Through the walls of the coil, the heat from the ground loop’s water is passed to the refrigerant. Then, the refrigerant moves the heat to the compressor where it is pressurized. The pressure makes the refrigerant extremely hot.

Once the refrigerant is good and hot, it’s pumped through the air coil’s pipes and fins. When air is forced across the now-hot coil, heat is transferred into that air. A blower then moves the heated air through your duct system and into your home to heat the space.

Next, the refrigerant is moved to the expansion valve, where the pressure is low. The low pressure cools the refrigerant so it’s ready to move back to the coaxial coil. Once refrigerant returns to the coaxial coil, it is again ready to absorb the heat from water carried through the ground loop.

For cooling your home, the ground source heat pump simply works in reverse. Refrigerant will flow in the opposite direction and excess heat will be pulled from inside your home to be deposited back into the ground. This excess heat can also be used to heat water for your home.