The important thing to remember is that once installed, the geothermal system requires minimal maintenance and offers superior savings for the life of the system.

Low Operating and Maintenance Costs
Geothermal systems have one of the lowest relative operating and maintenance costs of any HVAC system available. Annual operating costs are often lower than conventional systems such as built-up air handlers, rooftop units or VAV applications. Maintenance and service are easy and do not require specialized training, giving the owner more options for maintaining and servicing their equipment.

High Efficiency
Geothermal systems are one of the most efficient systems available for heating and cooling. For every 1 btu of electricity used to heat or cool your building, the geothermal heat pump unit produces 3-5 btu’s. That’s 300-500% more efficient than using electric resistance heat and 20-30% more efficient than typical boiler/tower systems. The constant temperature of the ground and colder design loop temperature mean that the geothermal heat pump units don’t have to work as hard, and are therefore more efficient than most other systems.

Geothermal heat pump units can also be provided with a load shedding device on the control board to further reduce energy requirements. The device creates a greater deadband, which enables the unit to “idle” for an extended period of time while maintaining a relative constant temperature setting. This feature allows the building’s peak to be shaved without compromising overall comfort.

Decentralized Design
Each water source heat pump resides in close proximity to the zone it serves. This avoids the large duct runs associated with central air systems. In addition, an equipment failure only affects the zone where the failed unit is located. Central system equipment failures can drastically affect large portions of the building.

Equipment can be changed to meet the specific needs of the occupant. For instance, in a retail environment, the unit can be sized to meet the load of a new tenant. In addition, individual power metering is possible, allowing the occupant to control and pay their own energy costs. As the building is constructed, only a minimum amount of equipment needs to be provided until an occupant is found and the tenant design complete.

Freeze Protection
In Northern climates, a typical water loop may contain a small amount of antifreeze (10%-30% by volume) to prevent the water in the ground loop from freezing up. The majority of the antifreeze products available pose no threat of polluting, even if there is a leak into the ground. The chances of an antifreeze leak into the ground is significantly reduced due to the strength and flexibility of the pipe used in today’s ground loops. If the pipe is pulled hard enough, it will actually be squeezed shut at its weakest point before a break would occur, thus sealing the system off to the surrounding ground.

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. For more information, see our Guide to Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling (708KB).

Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.

Learn more:

Maintain your Equipment: A Checklist
Finding the right contractor: 10 tips
Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts
Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.

Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealant (mastic) or metal-backed (foil) tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap the ducts in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, seal ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.

See our Duct Sealing brochure (1.13MB) for more information.

Consider installing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment
If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. But before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment.

Remember that getting the proper size and a quality installation is essential to getting the most from your new equipment. When replacing HVAC equipment, bigger doesn’t always mean better. If the unit is too large for your home, you will be less comfortable and might actually have higher utility bills. Oversized equipment will operate in short run cycles, not allowing the unit to reach efficient operation and remove humidity from the air — resulting in an uncomfortable home. Your contractor should determine the right size for your HVAC equipment by using ACCA/ANSI Manual J or an equivalent sizing calculation tool that takes into account specific information about your home.