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Did you know that in the summer, you can utilize your yard to cool your house? Geothermal energy is suitable for cooling and heating your home.
Your geothermal heat pump is a two-in-one HVAC system that can heat and cool your home. Despite their deceptive moniker, geothermal “heat pumps” are equally as good at cooling as they are at heating your house in the summer.
Geothermal heating works by pumping a temperature-conducting fluid via a network of subterranean pipes beneath or near your home. This permits the fluid to capture the heat energy that the sun has placed in the ground. Because the ground below the frost line is a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit all year, this works even in the harshest winters. The heat is returned to the pump and then dispersed evenly throughout your home via the duct system.
In essence, the heat transmission mechanism is backward. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on: Your heat pump takes heat from the air as it passes through your home and converts it into a fluid that flows to the ground. Heat escapes from the fluid to the ground because the ground is cooler (55F). The process results in the sensation of chilly air flowing into your house.
Here’s a more detailed explanation: The cycle starts when the compressor in your heat pump raises the refrigerant’s pressure and temperature. This heated refrigerant passes into the condenser, where it comes into contact with the ground loop fluid and transmits heat to it. This fluid is then cycled through your ground loop pipe, releasing heat into the earth.
But let’s return to the heat pump. The refrigerant passes through the expansion valve after transmitting heat to the ground loops, lowering the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. The now-cold refrigerant then passes through the evaporator coil, where it makes contact with the heated air inside your home. The cold refrigerant absorbs the heat from the inside air, leaving only cold air.
Geothermal air conditioning outperforms conventional central air conditioning in terms of efficiency. Your geothermal heat pump isn’t squandering energy by pumping hot air from inside into an already heated environment; instead, it’s readily releasing heat into the chilly subsurface.
As you may expect, even in the warmest summers, your geothermal heat pump will be effective and efficient in cooling your home. Installing a geothermal air conditioner might help you save up to 50% on your power bill! Using geothermal cooling to cool your home is a fantastic method to prevent those costly increases in your utility costs during the forthcoming hot summer months.
The higher the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), the more energy your HVAC system produces relative to the amount of energy it takes to run. With an EER of 3.4, an HVAC system is at break-even, producing as much energy as it consumes. Geothermal AC systems have EERs ranging from 15 to 25, but even the most efficient conventional AC systems have EERs of only a few.
Other efficiency assessment methods, such as Seasonal EER (SEER) and Coefficient of Performance, may be familiar to you (COP). All of these various acronyms, on the other hand, are just a product of the industry’s lack of uniformity. In essence, they all fulfill the same purpose. So, regardless of the technique of assessment, the efficiency rankings of HVAC systems remain the same, and geothermal wins out every time.
The more energy-efficient your HVAC system is, the more money you save in the long run! Choosing a high-EER HVAC system, such as geothermal AC, will help you save money on your monthly cooling expenses.
It’s crucial to distinguish between upfront and operational expenses: upfront costs are one-time (or several one-time charges if you pay in installments), whereas operational costs are recurring regularly. Traditional HVAC systems have a lower initial cost but higher operating costs, whereas geothermal HVAC systems have the opposite.
In the end, geothermal air conditioning is typically considerably more inexpensive than conventional air conditioning because, despite the greater initial cost, it has very low operating expenses. When you look at your energy account, you can see how much money geothermal AC saves you: geothermal heat pumps use less electricity in the summer!
The best thing is that your geothermal system pays for itself in savings within a few years!
Other costs to consider include the federal, state, and utility incentives available to households that switch from traditional HVAC to geothermal. Because geothermal heat and cooling do not use fossil fuels, renewable energy plans are possible.
These financial incentives lower the upfront cost of geothermal while keeping the operational costs the same. This implies that with financial incentives, your geothermal “payback period” will be considerably shorter – in some circumstances, as little as five years!
When compared to traditional HVAC, geothermal is pure convenience. If you could simplify and decrease the amount of parts and components you’d need, you’d be ahead of the game.
Distinct equipment performs different purposes in traditional HVAC. Depending on the season, these numerous moving components play a role.
Perhaps you use a central furnace that runs on natural gas, electricity, or even oil to heat your house. Perhaps you have natural gas, fuel, or oil-fired boiler. In addition to a wood-burning stove or fireplace, you may utilize gas-fired or electric space heaters.
In the summer, none of this equipment is used, so your focus shifts to the central air conditioner and its many pieces, both inside and outdoors. At the very least, traditional heating and cooling need two unique systems for various seasons.
Ground loops and a heat pump are the only components of a geothermal system. This system is basic, easy, and convenient.
Instead of having to install, operate, and maintain at least two different pieces of HVAC equipment in your house, you might have simply one that works all year.
The usual lifespan of a central air conditioning system is 12 to 15 years and 15-25 years for a heating/furnace unit. Major system components frequently degrade considerably during the first 5 to 10 years, resulting in a gradual reduction in efficiency. They also need more frequent maintenance and are more susceptible to damage as a result of the compressor’s exposure to the environment.
The subterranean looping system can last well over 50 years, and the geothermal cooling system pump lasts well over 20 years. During that period, they also require very little, if any, upkeep. The parts that keep a geothermal system functioning last longer when they aren’t exposed to the elements. Seasonal damages from varying temperatures and harsh weather patterns such as snow and hail are considerably less likely to occur in both portions of the geothermal system.
Traditional air conditioners, on the other hand, are left above ground and exposed to the weather, resulting in greater wear and tear. As a result, even if it isn’t necessary, frequent system maintenance is recommended.
Traditional air conditioners have a reputation for being noisy, but there’s a reason for it. By blasting interior heat into the scorching outdoors and using enormous amounts of energy in the process, traditional air conditioners are waging an uphill battle against science.
Because they send heated interior air into the cold earth, geothermal AC systems are significantly quieter. You can relax and enjoy the pleasant pleasure of a quiet, cool house in the summer instead of worrying about overworking your air conditioner.
Geothermal cooling has no negative health effects and has no net negative environmental effects!
To heat or cool your house, geothermal HVAC systems rely only on the earth’s temperature and power. Because certain utilities only provide electricity, geothermal HVAC may not be entirely renewable in some circumstances.
You may be certain, however, that geothermal’s indirect use of nonrenewable energy is still lower than any traditional HVAC system’s large-scale direct use of fossil fuels. Using geothermal instead of conventional air conditioning decreases your environmental footprint in the long run.
When it comes to human health, geothermal is also superior to traditional HVAC. When you turn on the heat in the winter, traditional combustion-based heating systems produce carbon monoxide, a deadly byproduct that can cause illness or death. Because carbon monoxide has no odor, taste, or color, it is typically undetected until it is too late.
Meanwhile, whether it’s winter or summer, geothermal HVAC systems don’t use any fossil fuels. There are no health risks with geothermal energy for you or your loved ones!
Even better, because there are no fumes or particulates produced by burning fossil fuels, the air quality inside your house remains clean.
This applies not only to the air quality in your house but to our entire environment on a large scale. One of the most important things you can do to promote a healthy environment is to upgrade to geothermal HVAC. Each year, air conditioners in the United States alone emit approximately 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the environment.
Geothermal energy is a healthy, safe, and long-term alternative to traditional air conditioning systems, which have detrimental effects on the environment and human health.
Are you considering switching to geothermal air conditioning for the summer? It’s time to get in touch with Tony Kelly HVAC Inc. to learn more about geothermal cooling for your house and get a quote today.
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870 Blountstown Hwy. Unit # 9
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: 850-385-3774
License #: CMC1249702
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