Geothermal heating systems in the United States have not been made marketable in recent years. Common citizens have not obtained the knowledge on how a geothermal heat pump could be profitable for your bank account or for the environment. By explaining how a geothermal heat pump works, the cost effectiveness of such systems, and how this energy production can be beneficial to the environment, I believe you will see the reasons for a move to geothermal energy.
Geothermal heating pumps work the same way an air-conditioner works. These "split systems" transfer heat from the ground to the inside of your home. A coil in a condenser located in the ground warms water with the heat in the ground, moves it to an evaporator coil inside your home where the heat exchanger moves the warmth to your air ducts. All GHPs contain a heat exchanger, which can heat or cool or even heat water. Increasing the energy savings can simply be done with added fans and a two-speed compressor. A dual source heat pump would combine a standard system and a geothermal pump at a less expensive price.
Now that you know how geothermal heating systems run, I can explain the cost-effectiveness of geothermal energy. When comparing a GHP to a gas-fired furnace a GHP will be most expensive in the initial cost. Although a typical residential system would cost around $7500, the energy savings can range fro 30%-60% (depending on climate factors). These energy savings are related to a much more efficient heating system. Geothermal heaters require much less space than a traditional system. A consumer can create a new or retrofit their old heater for a condensed system. One may be able to use heat from the ground to heat or cool many parts of their home including the temperature and water. The majority of the parts of a GHP are insured at least for 25 years, due to the parts being protected by the cover of your home and also depends on the stability of your land. These benefits are very important to the survival of geothermal energy in the US market.
Incentives exist for consumers wanting a change in how they receive their energy. These motives include tax credits and discounts to consumers purchasing these GHPs. Although most incentives require entirely new systems, they offer immense discounts. In Virginia, Dominion Power allows qualifying ENERGY STAR homes to procure discounts. 2008 ENERGY STAR homes in Virginia allocate for saving 1,932,528 lbs. of coal.
These reasons stated above assist my viewpoint for geothermal energy. The explanation of how the GHPs work show the efficiency of new systems. Saving money through more efficient ways of producing energy will be profitable in the long run. This will also assist the environmentally conscious public, with incentives to those willing to make the change.
Geothermals sound like they would make a lot of sense, but would they really produce enough heat or cool air to regulate an entire home? Would owners need to install secondary systems for really cold days? Also, are there areas in the US that are better suited to these systems than others- what makes for a potential area for a geothermal system?
ReplyDeleteAnnah,
ReplyDeleteYour questions bring up many important arguments for and against geothermal heating. According to the research I have done they (DOE website) claim the use of GHPs can heat entire homes in the same way natural gas furnaces work. I would agree with you GHPs will most likely not be as reliable, since ground temperature varies slightly with changes in the season. However, that change is very minuscule and will most likely not effect heaters. I could see these inconsistencies making GHPs a least likely candidate for heating. Since, a future of natural gas potentially might not exist; I think GHPs make a strong case for future heating. I see on the DOE website question, "Where is geothermal energy available?" They break it down into hydrothermal resources have the best success in the Western US. However, GHPs can be used anywhere. You are simply tapping into the heat in the Earth (4-6ft under), which ranges from 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Though this statistic does not sound like a good incentive, most residential homes are kept around 68. Therefore, the use of GHPs can be seen as a great way to create energy for your household.
The DOE website has a lot of information on all types of renewable energy sources. Including:
Geothermal FAQs: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/faqs.html
Geothermal energy is in my opinion one of the cleanest energy sources available to the U.S. I also want to point out that it is very limited to the locations in the U.S. where it is efficiently available. There are great resources in the west to tap into geothermal energy sources, which I believe should be extracted to a greater degree. I however, do not believe that every home in the U.S. could benefit from the use of geothermal energy.
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