A few feet underground, the earth's temperature is a steady 50° to 70° F, depending on your location. This naturally occurring heat in the earth provides an unchanging source of energy, which geothermal, or groundsource, heat pumps are engineered to harness. By taking advantage of the earth's energy, geothermal heat pumps provide ultra-efficient "space conditioning" for homes and businesses. They've been around for years, are tried and true, work practically anywhere, and are so energy efficient that many states and utilities provide incentives for installation. Why is it then that this technology doesn't get the respect it deserves? Is it perceived as too costly, or is the process misunderstood, or does it just sound too good to be true? "It seems to me that this is the 'Great Green Answer,' but is so little understood, so little talked about, even by the electric utilities themselves. In the heating mode, this system gets at least three-fourths of its heat energy from the earth, where it is economic, abundant, and clean. Unlike wind, it requires no governmental subsidy nor does it assault the hearing and visual senses as does wind, nor does it require transmission lines to carry its output to distant customers. In the hot months, the same on-site equipment cools the structure. It is highly efficient. No emissions, no visual pollution, no windmill towers, no noise. The only fossil fuel consumed is whatever it takes to generate the kWh needed to operate the compressor, fluid pump, and blower," writes John Turrel, editor emeritus of the Electric Letter, and a satisfied owner of a geothermal heat pump.
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