Watch above or check out this at Foxnews!
TAMPA - As those high summer temps continue, so do the high electric bills. So how would you like to cut your air conditioning bills in half? One Bay Area company says it can help you do it by tapping into the earth. It's called a geo-thermal AC system, and it could bring savings of thousands of dollars a year.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Geothermal AC on Fox News
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A Window of Opportunity
Renewable Energy Source [link]"There can be no doubt that a society rooted in the soil is more stable than one rooted in pavements." - Aldo Leopold
Monday, August 17, 2009
Plug into the Earth!
A lot of people don't realize there's a renewable energy source right beneath their feet!
Though heat pumps are gaining in popularity they are still relatively unknown despite their high efficiency. Aside from helping the environment, after an initial investment they can also drastically reduce your monthly energy bill. For more information about geothermal energy, you can check out http://EggComfort.com
Though heat pumps are gaining in popularity they are still relatively unknown despite their high efficiency. Aside from helping the environment, after an initial investment they can also drastically reduce your monthly energy bill. For more information about geothermal energy, you can check out http://EggComfort.com
Also check out my deviantart account!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Hello Kitty Goes Green!
Make hello kitty happy and check out geothermal energy at http://EggComfort.com !
A fun artwork for Hello Kitty. If you like it, please follow me on my DeviantArt Gallery
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Geothermal Put Simply
While temperatures above ground change a lot from day to day and season to season, temperatures in the upper 10 feet of the Earth's surface hold nearly constant between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For most areas, this means that soil temperatures are usually warmer than the air in winter and cooler than the air in summer. Geothermal heat pumps use the Earth's constant temperatures to heat and cool buildings. They transfer heat from the ground (or water) into buildings in winter and reverse the process in the summer.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective systems for temperature control. Although, most homes still use traditional furnaces and air conditioners, geothermal heat pumps are becoming more popular. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Energy along with the EPA have partnered with industry to promote the use of geothermal heat pumps.
Cost of Geothermal Heat Pump
Utilizing free energy from the earth beneath your feet, it is undeniable that geothermal is environmentally friendly and responsible. Geothermal heating and cooling uses the relatively constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses with 40% to 70% less energy than conventional systems. It also has the added benefit of providing free domestic hot water during the summer season and reduced cost for domestic hot water during the winter. All of these benefits sound good on top of "going green" but it all comes down to one final question. How much will this cost? Is geothermal "green" in both an investment perspective as well as an environment perspective?
Installation for geothermal heat pumps does have a high upfront cost. There are a lot of variables--where you live, the ground to be drilled, the square foot of the house--and though everyone agrees about its high initial expense, exactly “how much” remains vague at best. A good general idea for cost would be twice the price of a regular heat pump system with air conditioning. A geothermal heat pump costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, with the typically sized house needing a three-ton unit and putting the cost at roughly $7,500. Installation can bump the costs up to $10,000 or more depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment, and soil conditions.
On the flip side, the geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. Savings on the electric bill are immediate and considerable. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. Average consensus is that it will take about 5-10 years to see a return in the investment but that utilizing geothermal energy could prove a good financial decision for the long-term homeowner. To encourage the switch to a renewable energy source, some utility companies and agencies may pay a rebate and energy Star-rated ground-source heat pumps may qualify for federal tax credit.
In the end, geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. They have fewer mechanical problems and the underground piping used is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years. Quiet to operate and pollution free, geothermal heat pumps are an underused technology with a huge potential in the long run. Despite the debate on costs and the tough initial decision, figures indicate that 95% of heat pump owners would recommend a similar system to their friends or family.
Installation for geothermal heat pumps does have a high upfront cost. There are a lot of variables--where you live, the ground to be drilled, the square foot of the house--and though everyone agrees about its high initial expense, exactly “how much” remains vague at best. A good general idea for cost would be twice the price of a regular heat pump system with air conditioning. A geothermal heat pump costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, with the typically sized house needing a three-ton unit and putting the cost at roughly $7,500. Installation can bump the costs up to $10,000 or more depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment, and soil conditions.
On the flip side, the geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. Savings on the electric bill are immediate and considerable. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. Average consensus is that it will take about 5-10 years to see a return in the investment but that utilizing geothermal energy could prove a good financial decision for the long-term homeowner. To encourage the switch to a renewable energy source, some utility companies and agencies may pay a rebate and energy Star-rated ground-source heat pumps may qualify for federal tax credit.
In the end, geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. They have fewer mechanical problems and the underground piping used is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years. Quiet to operate and pollution free, geothermal heat pumps are an underused technology with a huge potential in the long run. Despite the debate on costs and the tough initial decision, figures indicate that 95% of heat pump owners would recommend a similar system to their friends or family.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Cost of Geothermal Heat Pumps
Utilizing free energy from the earth beneath your feet, it is undeniable that geothermal is environmentally friendly and responsible. Geothermal heating and cooling uses the relatively constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses with 40% to 70% less energy than conventional systems. It also has the added benefit of providing free domestic hot water during the summer season and reduced cost for domestic hot water during the winter. All of these benefits sound good on top of "going green" but it all comes down to one final question. How much will this cost? Is geothermal "green" in both an investment perspective as well as an environment perspective?
Installation for geothermal heat pumps does have a high upfront cost. There are a lot of variables--where you live, the ground to be drilled, the square foot of the house--and though everyone agrees about its high initial expense, exactly “how much” remains vague at best. A good general idea for cost would be twice the price of a regular heat pump system with air conditioning. A geothermal heat pump costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, with the typically sized house needing a three-ton unit and putting the cost at roughly $7,500. Installation can bump the costs up to $10,000 or more depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment, and soil conditions.
On the flip side, the geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. Savings on the electric bill are immediate and considerable. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. Average consensus is that it will take about 5-10 years to see a return in the investment but that utilizing geothermal energy could prove a good financial decision for the long-term homeowner. To encourage the switch to a renewable energy source, some utility companies and agencies may pay a rebate and energy Star-rated ground-source heat pumps may qualify for federal tax credit.
In the end, geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. They have fewer mechanical problems and the underground piping used is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years. Quiet to operate and pollution free, geothermal heat pumps are an underused technology with a huge potential in the long run. Despite the debate on costs and the tough initial decision, figures indicate that 95% of heat pump owners would recommend a similar system to their friends or family.
Installation for geothermal heat pumps does have a high upfront cost. There are a lot of variables--where you live, the ground to be drilled, the square foot of the house--and though everyone agrees about its high initial expense, exactly “how much” remains vague at best. A good general idea for cost would be twice the price of a regular heat pump system with air conditioning. A geothermal heat pump costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, with the typically sized house needing a three-ton unit and putting the cost at roughly $7,500. Installation can bump the costs up to $10,000 or more depending on depth of pipes, type of equipment, and soil conditions.
On the flip side, the geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. Savings on the electric bill are immediate and considerable. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. Average consensus is that it will take about 5-10 years to see a return in the investment but that utilizing geothermal energy could prove a good financial decision for the long-term homeowner. To encourage the switch to a renewable energy source, some utility companies and agencies may pay a rebate and energy Star-rated ground-source heat pumps may qualify for federal tax credit.
In the end, geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. They have fewer mechanical problems and the underground piping used is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years. Quiet to operate and pollution free, geothermal heat pumps are an underused technology with a huge potential in the long run. Despite the debate on costs and the tough initial decision, figures indicate that 95% of heat pump owners would recommend a similar system to their friends or family.
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