According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) geothermal systems are, “the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today.” Extremely high levels of efficiency are possible because a geothermal heat pump only uses electricity to move heat, not produce it. A geothermal unit typically supplies four to five kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used. Three to four of these kilowatts of heat come directly from the earth itself, and are clean, free and renewable. Geothermal heat pumps also take advantage of the mild ground temperature for extremely high efficiency cooling. Most systems also include a hot water generator, which diverts a portion of the supplied heat to the domestic water heater. This provides a substantial portion of a family’s hot water needs at a very low cost. Overall, geothermal technology offers the highest cooling and heating efficiencies of any system available today.

Geothermal systems transfer heat from your home to the earth in the cooling mode, or from the earth to your home in the heating mode. Water is used as the heat transfer medium through a closed loop piping system buried in the ground. By using this stable thermal source, geothermal heat pumps provide energy effi cient comfort year around with a factory-tested and sealed packaged unit, without the need for a noisy outdoor fan, or a flue.

The environmental advantages of geothermal systems have caught the eye of governmental agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Because geothermal technology is lowest in CO2 emissions, it provides a solution to global warming by primarily using the natural energy of the earth. EarthPure® (R-410A) zero ozone depletion refrigerant is available for ClimateMaster geothermal heat pumps for an even friendlier system.

In January 2006 the U.S. Federal government changed the minimum efficiency for air conditioners to 13 SEER from the previous minimum requirement of 10 SEER. Geothermal systems are up to twice the minimum required efficiency! As efficiency ratings increase, operating costs decrease. However, efficiency ratings alone do not tell the “whole story” when it comes to operating costs for homeowners. Fuel type, home construction, geographic location and thermostat settings are just some of the factors.

Over the years, geothermal systems have always been the leader in low operating costs. Recently, however, fossil fuels (natural gas, fuel oil and propane) have begun increasing at a much higher rate than electricity. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that electricity prices will remain stable over the next twenty years, allowing some increase for inflation. Now is the time to consider electric technologies like geothermal heat pumps for heating, cooling and hot water needs.

Even a high efficiency natural gas furnace with a high effi ciency air conditioner is still nearly twice the operating costs as a geothermal system. Since these comparisons are for new equipment (i.e. standard efficiencies = 13 SEER effi ciency for air conditioners and 80% AFUE efficiency for furnaces), comparisons to existing equipment being replaced by a geothermal system would be even more dramatic. If the existing air conditioner is older, it may have an efficiency of between 8 and 10 SEER. Older furnaces could be as low as 65-70% efficient.