So, where do these savings in operating cost come from? Well, there are a few different factors at play, but these are the three primary reasons:

1. There’s No Need for Fossil Fuels
   First, geothermal heat pumps do not burn fossil fuels. Those who heat their home using oil or gas know the pain of having to refill their tank, sometimes multiple times a year. These costs, on top of monthly electric bills can be quite the financial burden. Combine this with the fact that oil pricing is subject to supply and demand and you’ve got frequent headaches. Geothermal heat pumps free homeowners from oil and gas bills entirely – greatly reducing costs and unpredictability.
2. Ultra-Efficient Equipment
   Traditional furnaces create heat. This is not the most efficient process because it results in less energy put into the home than what the actual fuel contains. Even the most efficient traditional furnace is still only about 98% efficient.
   On the contrary, geothermal heat pumps transfer heat from the ground. This is a much more efficient process because the system can put out more energy than the power it consumes. In addition, only about a fourth of the energy delivered comes from the utility– the rest is extracted from free, renewable energy beneath the ground. For these reasons, geothermal heat pumps are 400% efficient – that’s 4 times more efficient than a traditional furnace!
3. Low Maintenance
   Geothermal heat pump systems require minimal maintenance due to their simplicity and longevity. The ground loop itself is buried beneath the ground and requires no maintenance – they typically have a lifetime of 50 to 100 years. For the heat pump, most manufacturers recommend a simple filter change 2 – 3 times per year and an inspection every five or so years. The heat pump, which is inside, typically lasts 20-25 years – that’s 5-10 years more than many conventional systems.

With the installation of more and more geothermal heat pumps, comes an abundance of benefits for our economy and environment; but those who directly benefit from low operating costs are the home and building owners themselves. Low operating costs means reduced monthly utility bills, less maintenance calls, and a better return on investment.

John (Jack) P. DiEnna Jr is the Executive Director of the Geothermal National & International Initiative, and can be reached at jdienna@geo-nii.org

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Reducing Energy in the Building Sector
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) states that buildings account for 41% of primary energy use in the US. 60% of this energy is used for space heating, cooling and water heating. These numbers reflect the vast use of inefficient building HVAC systems. On the bright side, this also presents the massive opportunity to improve energy consumption through the use of an energy efficient technology, like geothermal heat pumps.

GHPs leverage the constant thermal energy beneath the earth, the energy we already own to deliver space condition (read comfort) to a facility. Regardless of the temperature above ground, the temperature below the subsurface remains relatively constant, because of this, a GHP is much more efficient at bringing temperatures to a comfortable level for building occupants than a traditional HVAC System.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy usage and corresponding emissions by up to 44% compared to conventional systems. An Oak Ridge National Laboratory case study found that GHP systems saved 33-65% in energy use compared with baseline HVAC systems. As illustrated by these two organizations, GHPs are capable of providing ample savings to home and building owners.

Lowering Summer Peaks and Winter Loads
Geothermal Exchange Organization states that a typical 3-ton residential GHP can reduce summer peak electricity demand by approximately 2 kilowatts (kW). This renewable and efficient technology has the unique ability to reduce electricity consumption, without necessarily reducing energy usage.

When properly designed, the energy that GHPs leverage from below ground reduces the amount of electricity needed from our electrical grid. This is especially true during the hottest of summer days. On peak summer days, when temperatures soar, the electrical grid is often strained by increased customer demand, the more homes that use geothermal heating and cooling, the less electricity needed (regardless of temperature), and the less strain on our electrical grid. Talk about a win-win situation for utilities looking to level demand and consumers looking to reduce utility bills.

Geothermal heat pumps offer all kinds of benefits to consumers, businesses, our economy and our environment. With such a large amount of energy used for space heating and cooling, there is massive potential for improvement. Replacing conventional HVAC systems with geothermal heat pump systems would not only reduce utility bills for consumers and lower carbon emissions, it would help to level the increasingly problematic strain on our electrical grid.

John (Jack) P. DiEnna Jr is the Executive Director of the Geothermal National & International Initiative, and can be reached at jdienna@geo-nii.org

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Space Conditioning Presents Both a Problem and a Solution
Are you aware that building operations make up the majority of energy and carbon emissions associated with this sector? The day-to-day operations of space conditioning (heating, cooling, ventilation) and water heating applications make up 40% of total energy used by buildings. Aha! Here lies the problem and the opportunity to realize an actionable solution. The problem, when it comes to end-use space conditioning, is two-fold:

• Problem #1: We are space conditioning inefficiently and, as a result, consuming more energy.
• Problem #2: We are burning fossil fuels.

Both problems mean buildings not only account for a bigger piece of the pie, but a bigger pie as a whole, even greater than the transportation industry.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems are a Practical and Actionable Solution
Thankfully, there is already a practical and actionable alternative to minimizing the carbon footprint associated with space conditioning. Geothermal heat pump systems (GHPs) use the thermal capacity of the ground, or the energy under our feet, to provide heating and cooling to a facility. GHPs present the perfect solution to the environmental problems associated with building operations and if we factor in utility involvement it becomes even more practical.

• Solution #1: GHPs are extremely energy efficient, saving up to 30% more energy compared to conventional HVAC systems.
• Solution #2: GHP’s require zero fossil fuel burning.
  When we face the reality that building space conditioning make up a large piece of the energy pie, geothermal technology is a major weapon in the quest for less emissions, a stronger grid and the creation of thousands of jobs for the area.

John (Jack) P. DiEnna Jr is the Executive Director of the Geothermal National & International Initiative, and can be reached at jdienna@geo-nii.org

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