We live in the Edwardsville region, which as you know means it gets down to freezing in the winter while we swelter through the summer. What it costs to heat and cool our homes is always on our minds. Installing a geothermal heat pump for your home might just be your ticket to lower utility bills in the coming years.
Many of us don’t realize it, but we have an energy gem buried in our own backyards — the earth. No matter where you live on the planet, if you dig down into the dirt several feet, you’ll find a steady 50-degree temperature in winter and summer.
Geothermal heat pumps can double an air conditioner’s efficiency in the summer and be 50 percent more efficient than furnaces in the winter. And even though these systems cost more upfront to install, the savings on your utility bill mean you will recoup the installation costs as the years pass. Talk about buried treasure.
Even though geothermal heat is the most efficient heating and cooling system, not all systems are created equal. When looking to install a geothermal heating system in your home, pay attention to certain characteristics of a geothermal heat pump. This could increase the rate at which you recoup your installation costs and ultimately save you more per month on your utility bill. When looking for a quality geothermal unit, look for:
- The Energy Star label, a federal program that tells you the system meets the highest efficiency standards to reduce your utility bill and reduce your carbon footprint;
- A coefficient of performance (COP) rating of 2.8 or greater, which measures a unit’s heating efficiency;
- And an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) rating of 13 or greater, which measure’s a unit’s cooling efficiency.
You can gain additional savings through tax credits or rebates offered by various government agencies, manufacturers and local utilities.
Gain an edge on your utility bills by looking into a geothermal heat pump. Contact Ernst Heating and Coolingto discuss how these systems can save you money.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about geothermal heat pumps and other HVAC topics, visit our blog.
Ernst Heating & Cooling services Hamel, Illinois and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!