Today, there are many so-called “Green” products on the market but I venture to say that no “Green” product can make as large of an environmental impact as a Geothermal Heat Pump. The United States gets 84% of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural
gas – all of which are fossil fuels. We’ve depended on fossil fuels to provide electricity, power industries, heat our homes, and operate our vehicles. As a result, the planet’s supply of fossil fuels has diminished and the effect of their continued
use on our planet grows more ominous. As our culture and society have become more educated about the effect of fossil fuels on our environment, we have seen a continuous increase in Geothermal Heat Pump sales. According to a report by Pike Research,
unit shipments in the United States are projected to see growth from just fewer than 150,000 in 2011 to more than 326,000 units by 2017. I think it’s safe to say the days of cheap and plentiful energy have become a luxury of the past.
Geothermal Heat Pumps give homeowners and companies the ability to reduce their carbon footprint while taking advantage of the most energy-efficient heating and cooling system on the market. What makes a Geothermal Heat Pump so efficient is its use
of the earth’s geothermal energy. The earth actually acts like a solar collector and stores heat deep in the ground. This stored heat, which remains a constant 55 degrees, can then be harnessed and used to heat and cool homes and buildings of all
shapes and sizes. A homeowner using a Geothermal Heat Pump can expect efficiencies that are 400 – 500% higher than those of the most efficient traditional heating and cooling system. As a result, these homeowners will experience long-term savings
with the added benefit of hot water.
Geothermal Heat Pumps are one of the cleanest, safest ways to heat and cool a structure. They operate on 100 percent electricity. This means that no carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or other greenhouse gases will be emitted. Greenhouse gas emissions associated
with the use of geothermal heat pumps are 55 to 60 percent lower than those from a standard air-source heat pump.
Geothermal heat pumps account for more than half of the direct use of geothermal worldwide, followed by bathing and swimming. While the cost and lack of consumer awareness remain a primary obstacle to increased implementation; tax incentives and policies
that favor improved building efficiencies have helped overcome those barriers. If it were up to me, Geothermal Heat Pumps would be the undeniable 2013 Green Product of the Year.
Link to our Proud Green Home blog, A Geothermal Revolution is the Best Solution, and other resources!
