Geothermal heating and cooling consists of buried pipes beneath the property and an indoor handling unit. The pipes heat and cool the indoor air as needed, through utilizing belowground temperatures, which stay relatively consistent.
10 Myths about Geothermal Heating and Cooling
These systems have been used for over 60 years, both in the United States and abroad. Many real estate owners are unfamiliar with just how the systems work, however, and there are therefore many myths surrounding their usage.
1. Since geothermal HVAC systems use electricity, they aren’t a renewable technology.
Geothermal HVAC systems use just one unit of electricity in order to move as much as five units of heating or cooling. This one unit delivers the energy from the earth to the building.
2. Wind and photovoltaic power are better renewable technologies than geothermal HVAC systems.
While photovoltaic power and wind power play an important role in adding to the electrical grid, geothermal HVAC systems actually remove four times the kilowatt-hours of consumption. Geothermal HVAC systems are quite often the best way to reduce conditioning’s environmental impact.
3. To Use Geothermal HVAC, You Need a Lot of Yard Space or Real Estate
Some earth loops can be buried vertically, which means that you won’t need much aboveground surface. The vertical position is dependent upon the physical characteristics of your land. Additionally, you can tap into an existing aquifer if one is available, which means you’d only need to use a few square feet of real estate.
4. Geothermal HVAC heat pumps emit too much noise.
In reality, these systems are very quiet, and since there is no outside equipment, your neighbors shouldn’t hear anything.
5. Geothermal systems don’t last long.
The indoor equipment usually lasts for decades and is less expensive to replace than traditional HVAC systems. While earth loops are more expensive to install, they usually last for generations.
6. Geothermal HVAC systems can only heat, not cool.
These systems cool just as well, and they don’t require an additional backup heat source. Some customers do prefer to have a small backup to use on the coldest days so their loop can be smaller.
7. Geothermal HVAC systems can’t heat everything at once, like indoor water, a house and a pool.
HVAC systems can actually be designed to heat multiple things at once.
8. Geothermal HVAC systems end up putting refrigerant lines in the ground.
The majority of systems only use water in their loops and lines, which makes them an even more environmentally friendly option.
9. Geothermal HVAC systems use a lot of water.
In the past, there have been “pump and dump” systems that wasted water after it passed over the heat exchanger; however, those systems are now very rare. In fact, geothermal systems actually don’t consume any water. Instead, the water is taken and returned to the aquifer.
10. Geothermal HVAC technology is too expensive.
There are federal and local incentives for purchasing geothermal HVAC technology, which makes the price competitive with most conventional equipment.
If you’re looking to lessen your carbon footprint without losing the often-needed ability to heat and cool your home, geothermal HVAC systems may be the answer. Speak with your HVAC company for more information.
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