save you so much money in energy costs (while helping the environment) that you will be tempted to install one immediately. However, a geothermal system costs so much to install that you will be tempted to forget the whole thing. A geothermal heat pump draws heat from the ground and releases it in your home. Figure A: Geothermal Heat Pump A geothermal heat pump is vastly more efficient than because it doesn’t burn fuel to existing heat from one place relatively constant 50 degrees F year round, the system requires a lot less energy to cool your home than conventional AC systems or air-source heat pumps, which use outside air as a transferDuring the heating season, the liquid pulls heat from the ground and delivers it to the geothermal unit and then to refrigerant coils, where the heat is distributed through a forced-air or hydronic system. the cooling season, the process runs in reverse.

pump removes heat from your house and transfers it to the earth. Many units can provide domestic hotYour fridge removes heat from its interior and transfers it toA geothermal heat pump uses the same principle, but it transfers heat from the ground to your house (orIt does this through long loops of underground pipes filled with liquid (water or an antifreeze solution). The loops are hooked up to a geothermal heat pump in your home, which acts as both a furnace and an air conditioner.You’ll find a variety of federal, state and local financing, rebates and For more information on geothermal Rebates, Incentives and More Information You’ll find a variety of federal, state Recouping these costs through energy savings could take as little as four years or as long as 15 years depending on utility rates and the cost of installation. It takes some homework and professional estimates to figure out whether a geothermal system makes financial sense in your situation.

Let’s not sugarcoat it—installing a geothermal system is expensive. It costs $10,000 to $30,000 depending on your soil conditions, plot size, system configuration, the amount of digging and drilling required. 2,000-sq.-ft. home, a geothermal retrofit ranges from $10,000The system may require ductwork modifications along with extensive excavation. In a new home, installation costs would be on the lower end. installing a package ac unitEven so, a geothermalair conditioner unit on wall system will cost about 40 percent more than a traditionaldoes an ac unit use gasLow maintenance and long-lived. typically last about 25 years (compared with 15 years or less for a furnace or conventional AC unit) and

more than 50 years for the ground loop. fewer moving parts and is protected from outdoor elements, so it requires minimal maintenance.Much quieter than other cooling systems. noisy outdoor compressor or fan. The indoor unit is generally as loud as a refrigerator.Can be installed in both new construction and retrofitHowever, it’s a lot more expensive in retrofitsUses clean, renewable energy (the sun). heat pump, there’s no onsite combustion and therefore no emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or other greenhouse gases. Nor are there any combustion-related safety or air quality issues inside(However, the pump unit uses electricity, which may be generated using fossil fuels.)Much lower operating costs than other systems. geothermal heat pump will immediately save you 30 to 60 percent on your heating and 20 to 50 percent on your cooling costs over conventional heating and coolingInstallation is highly disruptive to the landscape

and may not be possible on some lots. or digging equipment will definitely crush yourStill relatively new, so there are fewer installers and less competition (which is why prices remainNot a DIY project. Sizing, design and installation require pro expertise for the most efficient system. The three closed-loop systems shown below are theThere is also a less common open-loop system that circulates surface water or water from a well through the system and returns it to the ground through a discharge pipe. The best system, loop length and design for a particular home depend on a variety of factors such as climate, soil conditions, available land, required heating and cooling load, and local installation costs Figure B: Horizontal System Layered coils or straight runs are placed in 6-ft.-deep trenches. This is the cheapest underground option, but it requires a lot of openA 2,000-sq.-ft. house requires

400 ft. of 2-ft.-wide trenches. Figure C: Vertical System holes are drilled about 15 ft. apart and 100 to 400 ft. deep. inserted and connect at the bottom. Figure D: Pond/Lake System This system draws heat from water rather than body of water nearby, this is the lowest cost option. of water covers coils anchored on racks about 10 ft. deep. Is Geothermal Right for You? About 100,000 geothermal heat pumps are installed in the United States each year, and according to Bob Donley, customer support manager at GeoSystems LLC in Minnesota, interest in geothermal is really on the rise. “In 2008 alone, the industry saw a 40 percent increase you’re a good candidate for a geothermal • Can stomach the upfront costs and plan to stay in your house for at least four to seven years (new construction) or 10 to 12 years (retrofit) to recoup initial costs • Live on a large lot with a pond or