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If you are interested in getting an energy tax incentive, you will have opportunities to benefit from the program until 2016. Various home improvements qualify and the creation of a residential geothermal system is one of the possibilities.
Geothermal heat pumps are starting to gain popularity among house owners interested in boosting the energy efficiency of their property. Such installations contribute to a number of important benefits apart from the access to the energy tax incentive.
Introduction
A geothermal heat pump (GHP) uses a ground heat exchanger to exchange either warmth or cooling with the earth. GHP is thus different from an air pump that completes the same kind of exchange with the surrounding air.
The use of earth as a medium is a really good idea because the temperature below the ground remains relatively constant. The temperature below the ground is warmer than the surface during the winter and colder during the summer. It is easy to understand how this natural phenomenon contributes to sustainability and energy efficiency in terms of heating and cooling.
GHPs are mainly used to heat and cool a house. Through the addition of some more equipment, such systems can also be used for water heating. Before considering such an installation, it is also important to increase the property’s energy efficiency and minimize heat losses.
Cost-Efficiency
Though the original installation can be quite costly, the GHP is one of the most cost-efficient home improvements that will give access to an energy tax incentive.
The initial expenditure will be absorbed within five to 10 years of the system’s operation. A GHP will produce sufficient bill savings, which will quickly add up to balance the original investment in the system. Depending on the type of system being chosen, utility bills can be cut by anywhere between 40 and 70 percent.
In addition, when quality components are chosen, a geothermal heating system can have a lifespan of up to 30 years. The underground components are even more long-lived and they are usually provided with a 50-year warranty.
Minimal Use of Energy
The main principles that geothermal heating systems use to function are quite different from those guiding the operation of electric or oil heat systems.
Rather than generating heat, the GHP will move it from one place to the other. Heat will be “taken out” of the house during the summer and into the property during the winter. Since heat is only being moved around, the amount of energy needed to power the process is negligible in comparison to the one required by systems that have to generate heat.
Other Benefits
The maintenance cost of having a GHP is lower when compared to other energy efficient possibilities. In addition, the toughness and longevity of the components make them less likely to break and require repairs.
Geothermal systems are the ones that create the best living environment. Hot and cold spots throughout the house are very common for other heating and cooling possibilities. The GHP guarantees even heating or cooling, meaning that the temperature will be the same throughout the house.
Choosing the right geothermal system for your home and learning more about the energy tax incentive and other financial stimuli available for such installations will be essential for getting started. Talking to experienced professionals in the field will give you all of the essential information needed to figure out whether this energy efficient home improvement is the right one for you.
Steve Nanos
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