Geothermal Heating and Air Conditioning Systems | Sustainable Solutions

Geothermal heating and air conditioning is a sustainable energy because it is capable of being renewed from nearly non-exhaustible resources. Other sustainable energies include solar, wind, and tidal power.

Geothermal heating and air conditioning

Growing awareness of unsustainable energy sources and their harmful environmental impact has motivated many countries to take action and begin installing sustainable energy sources, such as geothermal heating and air conditioning. For instance, Iceland uses geothermal energy  for most of its buildings and to heat swimming pools. According to National Geographic:

“Geothermal energy is generated in over 20 countries. The United States is the world’s largest producer, and the largest geothermal development in the world is The Geysers north of San Francisco in California.”

How Geothermal Heating and Air Conditioning Works

As you probably remember from elementary school, the center of our planet is very hot. In fact, the center of Earth is as hot as the surface of the Sun (bbc.com)!

This heat is mostly due to the extreme amount of pressure it is under. The heat is so intense that even when it passes through the outer core and the mantle, it is still hot enough to melt metal and have magma burst out of the crust.

Geothermal heating and air conditioning systems utilize the sustainable heat created naturally by our planet. The “hydrothermalfluids” are used to heat water and pump steam into a building. Geothermal plants are also used to generate electricity by having the steam spin a generator.

A ground loop in installed underground, eliminating and insightly equipment in your home or land. In the winter, heat is extracted from underneath the soil and transferred to your home. In the summer, the process is reversed and heat is taken from your home and released into the ground below.

This infographic does a good job of explaining how geothermal heating and air conditioning systems work.

geothermal heating and cooling

Image via billsheating.com

No matter what type of geothermal loop you need, whether it is a vertical, horizontal, pond, or open, we can get the job done so that your new sustainable energy source can last you more than 20 years.

For a recap of how geothermal heating and air conditioning works, see this video:

In addition to reduced energy costs, quieter and cleaner operation, and a much longer lifespan, geothermal system are also eligible for federal and local tax credits and rebates:

Incentives and Financial Opportunities

Federal

The Federal government is offering the Investment Tax Credit—a 30% credit against income taxes due to the IRS.

State

Rebates of up to $3,000 for residential heat pump systems can be applied for through Maryland’s Geothermal Heat Pump Grant Program.

Local

Many local jurisdictions offer exemptions and credits on personal property taxes that can offset the cost of installing geothermal heat pump systems.

Additional resources for the latest in financial incentives can be found at the Maryland Energy Administration’s Incentives & Resources page and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

For more tips on saving money and energy, see our Top 10 Tips to Save Money and the Planet.


What are you waiting for? Start harnessing the power of the Earth to save you energy dollars.

We provide full Hagerstown, MD geothermal installation and replacement services, and we will make sure that the system we install for you is perfectly suited to your budget and needs.

Whether you are sure you want to invest in a geothermal installation now or you want to learn more for future reference, give Larry & Sons a call today at (301) 733-5428.

Our expert geothermal technicians are standing by to provide you with top quality geothermal services in Hagerstown, Frederick MD, and the surrounding areas.

We service Hagerstown, Frederick, and the surrounding Maryland areas. We also service parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

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How Effective is Geothermal Heating? A Tip from Hedgesville

Geothermal heating is an efficient way to use the Earth’s natural resources to heat a building’s interior in Hedgesville. But is it an effective way?

Let’s consider the cost of geothermal heating. Once you get past the initial installation costs of a geothermal heating system, which are higher than other conventional heating systems, its operating costs are much lower because of its use of a natural, renewable heat source – the Earth. If you plan to stay in your home for many years, a geothermal heating system will likely pay for itself because according to International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, geothermal operating efficiencies are 50-70% higher than other heating systems, which represents a substantial lowering of energy costs.

And according to a leading electric utility company, the cost of electricity for operating a geothermal heat pump is lower than any other heating system which includes natural gas, propane, and oil.

Beyond lower energy costs, geothermal heating leaves a smaller carbon footprint than other heating systems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the average U.S. home is 17%, most of which comes from burning fossil fuels for electricity. Geothermal uses natural heat from the ground and therefore uses 30-60% less energy than more conventional heating and cooling systems. Using less energy equals less carbon dioxide production.

A geothermal heating system is only as effective as the equipment used to deliver it throughout the building. The most common delivery method is through a ground source heat pump. This pump pulls the heat from the earth and distributes it. When properly installed and maintained, a ground source heat pump can last 15-20 years and provide an excellent source for heating – and cooling.

The components of a geothermal system also include a compressor, air handling unit, and duct system. When all are installed and maintained correctly, a geothermal heating system will be just as effective in heating a building’s interior as any other heating system. Just be sure you hire a qualified heating and cooling professional to install and service your geothermal heating system.

Is Geothermal for Me? A Question from Gettysburg

Geothermal heating is a great alternative to other types of home heating systems available in Gettysburg. It is safe and efficient, costs very little to operate and makes use of a great renewable resource right below our feet. But is it right for you? Well, geothermal heating may be the right choice for many people, but there are many things to take into account before you can determine whether or not it is the best choice for your home.

The first important thing to understand when you are trying to decide whether or not to go with geothermal heating is how one of these systems actually works. A geothermal system heats your home by extracting heat from the ground and then transferring that heat into your indoor air. This happens when liquid, usually water or antifreeze, passes through a loop of pipes installed several feet below the ground.

The liquid absorbs heat from the ground, which in the winter is always warmer than the air, and carries is back up to an air handler inside your home where that heat is allowed to disperse into the air. Once the air is heated, the air handler blows the air through a system of ducts throughout your house, providing a constant stream of heated air to all areas of your home. The liquid, on the other hand, simply cycles back through the ground loop to pick up more heat and repeat the same cycle over again.

Because a geothermal heating system does not actually generate heat, it requires very little energy to operate. This means that it is both very cheap for you to run and environmentally friendly. But since installing a geothermal heating system involves putting pipes in underground, it can be pretty expensive initially. However, as long as the amount you save every month on your heating costs is enough to offset the high initial price of installation, it is worth it to put down the money up front.

Another alternative, of course, is a more traditional air source heat pump. These are much cheaper to install and nearly as cheap to run. However, air source heat pumps are not as efficient when the air temperature gets below freezing as a geothermal system can be. If you live in an area with harsh winters, the geothermal heat pump is a better option than an air source unit.