Geothermal is more than competitive in environmental terms. It has all the advantages. It does not pollute. It has no greenhouse gases. It uses no fossil fuels. It’s supply has no limit. The big drawback is the high outlay that must be made for installation. The operating costs are lower. The heat pumps employed operate the same way that gas and electricity use in air to air devices.
A geothermal heat pump will push a mix of water and anti-freeze through buried pipes. The warmth is then transferred into the house through a distributor unit using some sort of radiant or forced air heating design. Gas and electric systems use a network of vents to channel heat produced by burners or coils in a central unit.
The typical cost of these systems for the home will be over $8000. This is about twice as much as gas and electric powered units. There will be less of a cost difference in regions that require large amounts of heating and cooling. Boosting output in a such a system can be done for a price that makes it more competitive, but still more costly initially.
Since the earth will be providing the heat for free, operational costs are lower. Heat does not have to be generated through burning fuel but only through a transference. The only power used is employed making liquid run through the pipes, exchanging it through the heat pump and then pushing it into the air inside the house.
All over the country, temperatures in the fifties can be found at depths of just over two yards. This can be used for all the home’s cooling requirements. Some people may wish to add a supplemental heater to be more comfortable, but the need will be slight since temperatures in the upper fifties can already be achieved.
Since so much of the cost of these devices lies in the digging required for pipes, the price will be more competitive if it is included in the cost for construction. This can be part of the site preparation needed to create a building pad and level the lot. The same sort of heavy construction equipment is used for both resulting in considerable savings.
Special design work is called for when installing on minuscule lots. Routing the network of pipes may require a custom design that will cost extra. The price of digging can become prohibitive in area where there is hard rock a short distance down. Certain soils can also be costly to work with.
Geo-Hydro Supply, a leading geothermal product supplier, provides contractors and DIYers with quality geothermal products, like flow center and geothermal fittings. With over 20 years of geothermal installation experience, they supply only the best, long-lasting geothermal supplies.
Posted in Renewable Energy.Tagged with air conditioning, construction, consumer information, DIY, energy, geothermal energy, heating, heating and air conditioning, home, home improvement, homeowners, Renewable Energy, science, technology.By Justin Whitmen – March 25, 2011