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6 The Sun, Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A better
way to heat
and cool is
right under
your feet
Increasing energy costs have
many homeowners looking for
new ways to save money.
According to the Deparmcnt of
Energy, the average homeowner
pays abota $1,900 a year on
utilities, most of it going toward
heating and cooUng bi.s.
Adding insulation and sealing
ducts can help, but what can be
done to make some significant,
long-term savings?
A growing number of
homeowners are finding
savings in their own back
yards by utilizing the earth's
natural energy to heat and
cool their homes. It's called
geothermal energy -- and it
can save you some green
while you're going green.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal systems --
also known as ground source
heat pump systems (GSHPS)
or geothermal heat pumps
(GHPs) have been around for
decades but are just now
coming to the attention of
many homeowners.
The Department of Energy
and the Environmental
Protection Agency have both
endorsed ground source heat
pump systems as among the
most energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly
heating, cooling and water
heating systems available.
How it Works
The temperature of the
earth below the surface --
from a few feet to hundreds of
feet down- is moderate and
fairly constant. In many places
it stays in the mid- to upper-
50s all year. Instead of burning
fossil fuels, a geothermal heat
pump absorbs the energy
stored in the earth to heat a
it
-Ea h
'GU!
to Home Heating and Cooling
Want to
Learn More?
There are state, local, utility
and federal incentives that
promote renewable energy and
energy efficiency. Look up
rebates, tax credits and financing
options in your area at the
Database of State Incentives for
Renewables and Efficiency-
www.dsireusa.org.
Geothermal is an attractive
growth opporttmity for HVAC
and trade professionals working in
landscaping, grading and well
maintenance. 1.earn more at
www.boschwaytogrow.com,
See how much you might be
saving by using the Geothermal
Savings Calculator at
geosavings.boseh-climate.ns.
Get tips for selecting and
installing a geothermal heat pump
system at www.energysavors.gov.
Find a qualified contractor in
your area-- dealers.bosch-
climate.us.
l!!
Horizontal ground loop systems are Vertical ground loop systems are
used where there is sufficient space, used where space is limited.
High-density polyethylene plastic pipes buried in the ground are filled with
circulating fluid that absorbs the ground's heat and brings it Indoors.
home in the winter. In the
summertime a heat pump
rejects the heat from the space
and transfers it back into the
earth -- making it exlremely
efficient and cost-effective.
To make it work, you need
three basic elements: an
underground loop system, a
geothermal heat pump, and an
air-delivery system.
Loop System: This is a
system of high-density
polyethylene plastic pipes
buried in the ground. They are
filled with fluid, a mixture of
water and antifreeze, that
circulates throughout the pipes.
Open-loop systems drculate
water drawn from a well.
Geothermal Heat
Pump: The geothermal heat
pump extracts heat from the
fluid within the loop using a
vapor-compression refrigera-
tion cycleThis heat is then
sent into the home. In the
Photo courtesy of Gefly Images
summer, it extracts heat from
the indoor air and transfers it
to the fluid, which cools as it
circulates through the loop.
Air-delivery System:
Most geothermal pumps use
an electrically driven fan to
distribute the air through
ducts in the home.
A residential system can
also be equipped to heat
household water, as well.
According to the Interna-
tional Ground Source Heat
Pump Association, a geother-
mal system has efliciencies 50
to 70 percent higher than other
healing systems, and cooling
efliciencies 20 to 40 percent
higher than available air
conditioners. That means direct
savings on home utility bills.
How It Saves Money
According to Bosch
Thermotechnology North
America:
Geothermal heat
pomps have the lowest life
cycle cost today-- 25 to 50
percent less than a conven-
depending on location and
which GSHPS you use.
Although the upfront
costs are often more than a
conventional system, the cost
can be recouped within a
short period of time --as
little as five to seven years.
Local and federal tax
credits as well as rebates
decrease installation costs.
Costs may be further
reduced by special financing
options offered by heat pump
manufacturers, local utilities
and lending institutions.
How You Can Get
Tax Credits
Under the recent lax credit
legislation, a taxpayer who
installs a geothermal heat pump
in a residence could be eligible
for a tax credit of 30 percent of
the installed cost of the system.
The system must meet
Energy Star requirements in
effect at the time the system is
completed. This credit is not
limited to the primary
residence, but may be used for
any property a taxpayer oWns.
tional system. Equipment , ,placed in
You can save up to 70 j ce'! betw/Jan. 1, 2009
percent on your energy" :.' and:tlP! 1;:'"
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