22
2011
Geothermal Systems: Finding the Right Size for Your Home
Homes in the United States are getting bigger. In 1970, the average home size was around 1,400 square feet, but by 2009, even after the 2008 mortgage bubble pop, the average home size was 2,700 square feet. Bigger homes means they need more powerful air conditioners and furnaces to keep them cool or warm as the season demands. The furnace of 1970 might not do the job. These days we have more than just furnaces […]
22
2011
Can Geothermal Systems Heat Water?
Well, yes they can and in most cases they do so as a side-effect of the cooling process. If you have a pond/lake loop geothermal heat pump or the unit is sunk into the aquifer, then your unit heats water whenever it cools your home. Of course, that probably wasn’t exactly the question you were asking. What you probably were wondering was can a geothermal heat pump also be a hot water heater for your […]
22
2011
How Does Geothermal Radiant Floor Heating Work?
Radiant floor heating is making a come back as an energy-efficient and effective method of keeping us warm. Where exactly is it coming back from? We know for certain that the ancient Greeks were using radiant floor heating in wealthy homes and hot baths as much as 2,500 years ago, which makes radiant floor heating one of the most time-tested methods at work in the modern heating, ventilation and air conditioner industry. So, how does […]
22
2011
What Should My Geothermal Install Kit Include?
Geothermal heat pumps are becoming more and more popular and more and more HVAC dealers are starting to offer them to interested consumers. Most people interested in installing a geothermal heat pump usually have a lot of questions and a popular one is often: what should my geothermal install kit include? After all, this is a such a new field that most people do not know what the basic packages should be and no one […]
22
2011
Tax Incentives for Buying Geothermal
The U.S. Department of Energy is very much interested in reducing the country’s overall electricity consumption in an effort to lower nationwide energy costs. There are also numerous lobbying groups and environmental concerns who regularly petition the U.S. Congress to do something about the country’s massive carbon footprint and resultant pollution. In recent years, these efforts have resulted in programs and laws to provide incentives for energy-efficient options like EnergyStar certified appliances and HVAC systems […]
22
2011
Are Geothermal Systems Easy to Install?
There’s an old saying I’m sure you’ve heard, “If you want something done right, then do it yourself.” This can be true in some cases, but it is certainly not the case when it comes to geothermal heat pump installation. While the engineering principles that give geothermal heat pumps their excellent energy efficiency are simple enough, installing one is not something you should take up as a weekend project unless, of course, you have to […]
22
2011
Incentives for Buying Geothermal Heat Pumps
Your old air conditioner is still running just fine, cooling your house the way you like it, and the furnace does what you need it to do in winter. Your monthly electric bill is not the cheapest around, but it is not more than you are willing to pay. Everything seems to be working properly, so then, why should you upgrade to a geothermal heat pump? What is your incentive? Well, I’m glad you asked. […]
22
2011
What Are the Best Geothermal Heat Pump Brands?
Like any other item you can buy today, there are a plethora of companies manufacturing and selling geothermal heat pumps. All of them, of course, promise you that their particular brand of pump is the best on the market and will deliver unparalleled energy-efficiency and air comfort performance. Right, well, some of them will and some of them won’t and some of them you should stay away from. How do you evaluate a best brand? […]
22
2011
Are Geothermal Systems Worth the Money?
It is simple fact that geothermal heat pumps are far more energy efficient than just about any other kind of furnace or air conditioner on the market. Geothermal units do not require as much power to do what they do, which decreases a home’s carbon footprint, and they use environmentally friendly designs to have a minimal impact upon the ecosystem. It is clear that geothermal heat pumps are a very green choice, but a more […]
22
2011
What Will I Need to Install a Geothermal System?
More and more every year, geothermal heat pumps are becoming the preferred energy-conscious air comfort choice for Americans. Geothermal units offer such cost savings and green benefits that compared to traditional air conditioner and furnace units it only makes good sense to transition to geothermal. With more and more people installing geothermal heat pumps, or becoming interested in doing so, the question very commonly arises: what will I need to install a geothermal system? Well, […]