Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Pros and Cons of Installing a Geothermal System for a Home


You can save money if you install your own geothermal system in your home. The idea behind a Geothermal unit is that the earth's temperature remains at a constant so by installing underground piping with a fluid to absorb the heat, you can use this "free" energy. A fan blows the heat throughout the house after it has been pumped through a heat exchanger. This form of heating will never run out and is available any time. This article will address The Pros and Cons of Installing a Geothermal System for a Home.

This process is more energy efficient than conventional heat pumps. Almost 70% of the energy used is renewable energy which means lower energy bills for you. Because the heat can be used to heat your water, you can reduce your water heating bill by half, also.

The compact size of the unit makes it very convenient to have in your house. It is environmentally friendly because the source is natural energy. The unit is very low maintenance, which is an added bonus. It may require improvement on insulation and sealing to make the heating more beneficial.

A couple of cons about the unit include the initial cost. It can cost almost twice the price of a conventional heat pump, making the initial investment quite pricey. Another problem is that they do need to be replaced over time. The average that the system lasts is around fifteen years.

Also, if you have to have a vertical installation, it can involve difficult drilling and may require a big rig. This can make installation cost quite a bit more and turn it into a much larger task.

Looking at The Pros and Cons of Installing a Geothermal System for a Home can give you insight and help you make an informed decision about which form of heating would be best for your home. There is a lot of information available on the internet. You can even read about how to do it yourself to save even more money. Do your homework and research now and then you can make an informed decision when the time comes to decide.


Created for CleanEdison, Inc. CleanEdison serves federal, state and local governments, building design and construction firms, owners, operators, and real estate investors.  We have educated hundreds of companies and thousands of individuals in green building practices both through customized training and the largest open enrollment green training program in the nation. CleanEdison has courses in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), BPI (Building Performance Institute) Certification, Energy Auditing, Solar, Wind and Renewable Energy. CleanEdison has also developed numerous customized training programs specific to a business or organization's needs. Click here to learn more about CleanEdison, BPI Certification & BPI Training

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