Geothermal Advantages

Geothermal Advantages

One of the main geothermal advantages is a low operating cost. Typical geothermal systems use 20% to 50% less electricity, which will save you $400 to $1400 a year. Power companies recognize this advantage and will, at times, offer special rates to customers with geothermal energy systems, as the reduced usage allows the electric companies to sell more of their electricity to others. Other electric companies pay for geothermal system installation, and the customers pay to lease the system, which is still cheaper than electrical usage. The average time for payback on an investment in a system utilizing geothermal heating is five years.
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Fewer Emissions

Because geothermal heating does not require burning any fuel, emissions are very low for this type of system. Geothermal systems reduce emissions more than 40% compared to air-source heat pumps and more than 70% compared to electric resistance heating and standard air-conditioning systems.

Environmental Impact

In fact, a major geothermal energy advantage is a low environmental impact. In open loop geothermal systems where water is returned to ponds or lakes, local water or ground temperatures may be increased, but with proper installation the result is negligible. Some consumers are concerned about the water-antifreeze mix used in closed loop systems. Because the pipes are not highly pressurized, very few leaks occur, and the mix is made with propylene glycol, denatured alcohol or methanol, so it is fairly non-toxic.

Reliable

Geothermal systems are very reliable. Piping systems are warranted for 20 to 50 years, and because they are not under high pressure and the antifreeze is non-corrosive, they are estimated to be able to last up to 200 years. Geothermal heat pumps have few moving parts and are usually located inside, safe from the elements, and are known to last for more than 20 years. An additional advantage of having few moving parts is that they are very quiet, no louder than a refrigerator.

Retrofit your Current System

Geothermal systems are easy to retrofit and have the advantage of being easy to integrate with existing duct systems, especially underfloor heating systems. It is simple to adjust the systems to allow different temperatures in different rooms, and the heat pumps provide very even heat, no blasts of hot or cold air.

Disclaimer: This article offers general guidelines and is not intended as professional advice.