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Look to the ground for efficient heating and cooling
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May 2010
When it’s time to replace your heating and cooling system, take advantage of the steady temperatures underground.
A geothermal heating system uses the ground’s heat to keep your home warm, and can save you up to 70 percent on your heating and cooling bills.
Below-ground temperatures remain fairly consistent year round, even while the weather above ground changes drastically. Geothermal systems use this free energy by extracting heat from the ground in the winter with small underground pipes and distributing it through your house through a duct system. In the summer, the system extracts the heat from the home and either moves it back into the ground, or uses it to preheat water in your water heater’s tank.
Because geothermal units are installed inside the home, they’re less susceptible to damage from weather and debris. These systems are an excellent choice for areas where gas furnaces can’t be located, because they emit no gasses or exhaust. They work using looped pipes located 100 feet to 400 feet underground, and are horizontal or vertical, depending on space.
While geothermal systems are easy to design into new homes, they also work well as replacement systems in homes that already have ductwork.
Geothermal systems are more expensive to install than traditional heating and air conditioning systems, but homeowners typically recoup the costs through the system’s significantly lower operating costs. Plus, until 2016, homeowners are eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent of their total investment in these energy-efficient systems.
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