Energy Efficient
GHP systems reach high efficiencies of between 300% - 600%. This means that conventional HVAC systems use three to six times more energy than a GHP system. Installing a GHP system will reduce your energy bill by 40% - 70% when compared to conventional HVAC.
Cost Effective
Investing in a GHP systems will bring a guaranteed payback, often in less than five years. Energy costs will be reduced by 40 percent to 70 percent (according the US Department of Energy). In addition, GHP systems have far fewer moving parts; eliminate costly chillers and boilers, which also require a lot of maintenance. With GHP, you may not need an expensive natural gas company connection, and your electric utility connection can be downsized significantly. Federal, state and local incentives further enhance the economies of these systems. Click here to learn more about cost savings.
Water Savings / Free Hot Water
Depending on your needs and how your system is designed, GHP can also provide hot water (up to 150 degrees, if needed) , another significant cost saving. For HVAC systems that would otherwise use cooling towers, GHP will eliminate the need for them, saving significant amounts of water, a resource that is in critical supply in much of the west and southwest.
LEED® Certification Points
The LEED® credit most associated with GHP Systems is the Energy & Atmosphere – Optimize Energy Performance. GHP Systems could earn up to 19 points under this category alone. Click here to learn how GHP can green your building and earn LEED points. (LEED® is a registered trademark of the US Green Building Council)
Energy Security / Energy Independence
GHP is so efficient it could have a significant effect on the electric grid and the amount of fossil fuels we use to generate electricity. Interestingly, Native American tribes that are rapidly adopting GHP believe that it allows greater independence by breaking their reliance on non-Native propane, fuel oil and other fossil fuel energy sources now used to heat and cool tribal homes and facilities.
Green Jobs
GHP is one of the most environmentally beneficial technologies available today. It reduces energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use and the use of refrigerants. The jobs associated with making the various system components are among the greenest jobs, but they are also good paying, manufacturing, construction and ALL AMERICAN. Building GHP is building our economy.
Incentives
A number of states and the US Department of Energy consider and some utilities consider GHP to be a renewable resource as well as energy efficient, making it eligible for multiple incentives. Incentives include grants, loans, rebates, and tax credits. Click here to learn more about federal incentives.
Environmentally Sound
Because they use very little energy, GHP systems can reduce our dependence upon fuels required to generate electricity. In addition, GHPs bring the individual residential or commercial customer closer to true Zero Net Energy by dramatically reducing energy and water use. Interestingly, Native American tribes believe that GHP systems provide a significant step towards independence by breaking their reliance upon non-Native propane, fuel oil and other supplies of fossil fuel energy sources needed to heat and cool tribal homes and facilities.
GHP Systems are a greenhouse gas legislation “home run” with a negative cost of greenhouse gas removal. These systems reduce the emissions associated with fossil fuel burning. On-site, equipment that uses combustion to deliver energy is eliminated, resulting in zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions. Off-site, any emission associated with the procurement of electricity is reduced by up to approximately 70%, depending on the efficiency of the system. As well, the elimination of cooling towers and their associated chemical treatments eliminates potential environmental liability. The elimination of cooling towers also results in water conservation. Closed Loop GHP Systems require no water, and it is possible for the system to save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water a year for a single building. Learn more about the environmental benefits of geothermal systems.
Health and Safety Benefits
By eliminating a fossil fuel boilers and heating systems, on-site combustion is eliminated, improving air quality and reducing risks of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Eliminating cooling towers reduces the threat from mold, fungus, bacteria, and allergens known to accumulate in cooling towers.
Comfort Benefits
GHP systems can consist of multiple heat pumps that each heat and cool different zones of a building. This allows precise individual zone temperature control. Simultaneous heating and cooling is also possible due to individual zone temperature control. The GHP Systems can also deliver more dense air, allowing for a better distribution around the building, reducing the chance of some areas going without heating or cooling. In addition, GHP's, fewer moving parts and silent underground heat exchanger mean a much quieter environment in your building.
System Longevity
GHP systems last a long time. The underground heat exchanger, made of high density polyethylene piping, is extremely durable and is likely to outlast the building it serves. Heat pumps are very simple, well understood and also have exceptionally long lives. All the equipment is underground or indoors, preventing weatherization and vandalism. ASHRAE has rated the lifespan of these systems at 26 years.
Baseload Demand
GHP systems address baseload demand, a key component to reducing overall energy demand. The more peak demand that is eliminated the less likely a new power plant needs to be built.
Other Benefits
Here are a few other benefits you might want to know about:
- Easily integrated with any energy plan, including solar, wind, conventional or a combination
- Transmission (electricity, fuel) not required
- Eliminates bulky, unattractive external equipment such as cooling towers or packaged air conditioning units that interfere with architectural design, take up valuable space and invite vandalism.