These days, more and more homeowners are having a hard time keeping up with the costs of high heating and cooling bills. With utility pricing perpetually on the rise, many people are now starting to seek out ways to improve their homes from an energy-efficiency perspective and lower their yearly maintenance expenses in the process. Blair Harris is the director of Sales and Marketing at A&R Mechanical Services, a locally owned, full service Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning business that has been serving the Amarillo, Texas area since 1992. She says that one of the best ways for a homeowner to reduce his energy burden is to have a geothermal heating and cooling system installed.
The concept of geothermal heating and cooling is actually being celebrated by utility-weary individuals and environmentalists alike. The process involved in implementing this method of heating and cooling is fairly simple, though the actual installation work can be rather time-consuming and complex. Geothermal heating and cooling involves using the earth’s natural heat to alter the temperature of people’s homes for the better. Using a looped piping system that gets installed underground, a geothermal system will essentially work to extract the earth’s heat and pump it into a home. Since the temperature of the earth beneath the surface is relatively constant, a geothermal system will incorporate heating or cooling methods in its piping (known as a thermal loop) to allow homeowners to achieve comfortable temperatures within their houses.
From an environmental perspective, the act of heating and cooling a home doesn’t get much more earth-friendly than this. Since this type of heating and cooling draws its energy from a renewable source and keeps pollution to a minimum, those looking to go green can sleep soundly knowing that their homes aren’t contributing to the planet’s demise. Additionally, geothermal heating and cooling systems are extremely energy efficient. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that those using geothermal heating and cooling systems are generally able to significantly reduce their energy use and associated bills.
While geothermal heating and cooling systems can be somewhat expensive to install, most HVAC experts agree that they are clearly worth their upfront cost. The amount of energy that the average given household can expect to save by utilizing geothermal heating and cooling methods will more than make up for the initial installation cost, and then some. Additionally, qualifying heating and cooling systems can result in a generous tax credit courtesy of the U.S. government, making the notion of going geothermal even more financially appealing. Finally, from a maintenance perspective, geothermal heating and cooling systems are known for their easy upkeep and built-in longevity – a fact that can also translate into significant savings.
If you’re looking for a way to help the environment and minimize your utility bills at the same time, then you might want to consider the notion of replacing your current heating and cooling system with a geothermal counterpart. Not only will you increase the value of your home, you’ll get the benefit of knowing that you’re doing your part to preserve our planet in the long run.
