GeoExchange heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available, according to the Environmental Protection Agency1.
EPA found that GeoExchange heat pumps can reduce energy consumption--and corresponding emissions--by over 40% compared to air source heat pumps and by over 70% compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment. Combining GeoExchange with other energy-efficient measures, such as window or insulation upgrades, can increase these savings even further.
GeoExchange heat pumps use the Earth's energy storage capability to heat and cool buildings, and to provide hot water. The earth is a huge energy storage device that absorbs 47% of the sun's energy -- more than 500 times more energy than mankind needs every year -- in the form of clean, renewable energy. GeoExchange heat pumps take this heat during the heating season at an efficiency approaching or exceeding 400%, and return it during the cooling season.
EPA found that, even on a source fuel basis -- accounting for ALL losses in the fuel cycle including electricity generation at power plants -- GeoExchange systems are much more efficient than competing fuel technologies. They are an average of 48% more efficient than the best gas furnaces on a source fuel basis, and over 75% more efficient than oil furnaces. In fact, today's best GeoExchange systems outperform the best gas technology, gas heat pumps, by an average of 36% in heating mode and 43% in cooling mode!
The U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that if GeoExchange heat pumps were installed nationwide, they could save several billion dollars annually in energy costs and substantially reduce pollution2.
Surveys by utilities indicate a higher level of consumer satisfaction for GeoExchange heat pumps than for conventional systems. Polls consistently show that more than 95% of all GeoExchange heat and cooling customers would recommend GeoExchange to a family member or friend.
GeoExchange heat pumps represent a savings to homeowners of 30 to 70% in the heating mode, and 20 to 50% in the cooling mode compared to conventional systems.
Achieving the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium's (GHPC) goal of 400,000 annual GeoExchange installations each year by 2001 will reduce U.S. greenhouse emissions by over 1 million metric tons of carbon each year relative to base case market projections. This reduction in carbon emissions is equivalent to taking over half a million cars off the road, or planting over a million acres of trees. After GHPC's program ends at that time, a self-sustaining GeoExchange industry will cause U.S. annual carbon emissions to decrease by an additional 450,000 tons -- every year! That translates into a total annual carbon reduction of at least 5 million metric tons by the year 2010.
Achieving GHPC's goal of 400,000 installations per year by 2001 will save consumers over $420 million per year in energy bills. After that, annual energy savings will increase by an additional $170 million -- every year.
1 Environmental Protection Agency, Space conditioning: The Next Frontier, Office of Air and Radiation, 430-R-93-004 (4/93).
2 Otherwise known as geothermal heat pump, ground coupled heat pumps, and ground source heat pumps.
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