IntelEfficient

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are becoming increasingly common as a smart way to heat and cool buildings.  The big reason for this is a 30 percent federal tax credit that effectively reduces the cost by that much.  They’re not for everyone, but according to the EPA, geothermal systems are “the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available today.”  

The term geothermal is also used in reference to the heat from molten magma, which in some places is close enough to the Earth’s surface that it can be used to generate steam and create electricity.  What we’re actually talking about in this article is ground-source heat pumps, much like the more common air-source heat pumps that the electric utilities like to promote. Read the rest of this entry »