What Are Ground Source Heat Pumps And Are They Efficient?
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) systems save energy by using the constant temperature of the ground to increase the seasonal efficiency of home heating. These installations can be some of highest of High Efficiency A/C and Heating Systems for your home or office.
One way to improve High Efficiency A/C and Heating is to move heat from or to a consistent temperature controlled source such as underground. This can be done in variety of ways. In AirVantage’s opinion, the best way is by means of an underground closed loop of water or water/anti-freeze mix, a circulating pump and a liquid to refrigerant heat exchanger. For most part, the remainder of the system functions the same as any standard heat pump system.
It Works Like This…
Underground temperatures remain consistent while above ground temperatures vary greatly with the different seasons.
The summer outdoor high temperatures cause our High Efficiency A/C and Heating systems to struggle to relieve heat. While our cold winters can cause our heat pump systems to struggle to get heat out of the outdoor air. This can less of a concern due to our mild winter seasons in the Gulf Coast area as the ground source heat pump overcomes these difficulties because of the consistent under ground temperature.
You might be thinking… “Why aren’t ground source High Efficiency A/C and Heating systems more popular if they are so efficient?”
Good Question. The most common reason geothermal or, ground source heat pump system aren’t seen more often is they are more expensive and require a substantial initial investment. Why? The installation work involves digging or drilling holes into the ground to install the the closed loop needed to transfer heat to and from the ground.
The number and depth of boreholes will be dictated by the size of the heat pump and the geology. For instance, a 8kW heat pump is likely to need at least three boreholes 210′ to 300′ deep (or two slightly deeper boreholes).
The good news is…
…in many cases your ground source heat pump initial investment is recovered over time in the form of energy savings. An added benefit currently is the energy tax credit offered by the government for systems the meet qualified regulations.
What Can A Ground Source Heat Pump System Cost?
Geothermal heating system prices vary depending on the type of loop system, usually either vertical or horizontal and soil conditions. On average, a typical home of 2500 square feet, with a heating load of 60,000 BTU and a cooling load of 60,000 BTU could cost between $20,000 to $25,000 to install. It’s a big investment, we know… however, if you plan on building a legacy style home, a GSHP system can easily pay for itself in a relatively short time.
For more information about the GSHP systems and the more conventional High Efficiency A/C and Heating systems from American Standard, contact AirVantage at 409 354 1234 or click our web site at https://www.AirVantageCo.com.