When I chose the heating and cooling system for my new-home build, environmental responsibility was a priority.
- I hoped to find an option that would keep my family’s carbon footprint to a minimum.
I was unwilling to invest into a natural gas furnace because of the resulting carbon monoxide, fumes and greenhouse gas emissions. After some research, I came across a geothermal heat pump. This type of heating and cooling is considered the most environmentally friendly by the Environmental Protection Agency. The system does not burn fossil fuels to create heat but makes use of existing heat. The ground-source version includes an underground loop system that draws from the free and renewable energy source provided by the sun. Because the underground temperature remains constant all year round, there is always heat available. This heat is transferred into the house during the winter. In the summer, the heat pump reverses operation to pull heat out of the house and deliver it into the ground. The process creates four times the amount of energy it requires to operate. Another advantage of a geothermal heat pump is that it is capable of generating a virtually free source of household hot water. Installing a geothermal system has saved us enough money on our heating and cooling bills to pay for the higher cost of purchase within five years. I like that the geothermal system provides year round comfort, keeps noise levels low and is unobtrusive. It doesn’t cause issues with insufficient humidity during the winter and helps to handle excessive humidity in the summer. A multi stage filtration system does a good job of trapping airborne contaminants.