Pumps
Posted by admin on
February 19, 2010
Geothermal Heat Pumps – A Perfect Time To Invest
Governments in developed nations are offering rebates on geothermal heat pumps in an effort to meet emission targets set for 2020. The incentives are aimed at consumers and industry alike in a bid to solve some of the issues associated with global warming.
In an effort to shift consumer’s reliance on fossil fuels governments are looking to geothermal heat pumps as an effective and environmentally friendly form of heating.
Rebate schemes are available in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and many parts of Europe.
Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperature of the earth instead of the outside air temperature.
The temperature just beneath the surface of the earth is much warmer in winter, therefore a geothermal heat pump needs only to heat the source temperature a few degrees in comparison to an air based heat pump that may have to heat the source by as much as 15 to 20 degrees.
There is an inherent cost saving in electricity bills for consumers. Users of geothermal heat pumps can save as much as 60 per cent in electricity rates.
A number of companies have been established to capitalise on this surging energy trend. The use of geothermal heating has been predicted to double in the next six years.
Geothermal heating was first used in the 1940s. Since then its advances in technology have rendered it as an efficient and environmentally friendly form of heating.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has rated the technology as the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of alternative energy.
Cameron Miles had a geothermal heat pump installed in his new home. He said compared to air based heat pumps there were a number of advantages.
“I installed a geothermal heat pump about a year ago. I have seen my electricity bill fall by 40 per cent which is amazing in this age when electricity is just getting more expensive. It provides excellent comfortable heat, not the kind of stuffy heat that I use to associate with heat pumps,” he said.
In the five years since 2003 the shipment of geothermal heat pumps has surged by 40 per cent. Over 1.5 million geothermal heat pumps are installed worldwide and with government incentives now in place and as installation costs begin to fall it is believed geothermal heat pump use will continue to rise dramatically.
As governments around the globe devise various ways to combat global warming the use of alternative energies and in particular geothermal technology will play a crucial role in helping eliminate carbon emissions.
An efficient and environmentally friendly source of heating, geothermal heat pumps will become a significant player in modern energy trends.
Related: geothermal home