In a world that is striving to become greener, geothermal energy has become a popular alternative to natural gas or oil. Geothermal energy works to draw from the earth’s constant core temperature to both heat and cool your home. While there are definite economic and environmental benefits, it’s important to be aware of both the pros and cons of geothermal energy.
Geothermal Energy Pros
- Environmentally friendly compared to gas or oil furnaces
- Not a significant source of pollution
- More efficient than furnaces
- A renewable resource
- Works for small and large spaces
- No cost fluctuations based on gas and oil prices
- Anywhere between 25 to 60 percent savings on heating and cooling
- The ability to move heat that already exists
- Makes a minimal landscape footprint
- Non-weather dependent
- Won’t turn off and create potential danger
- Eligible for tax cuts
- Quieter operation
- Long lifespan
- Fewer moving parts and less maintenance
- Small carbon footprint
- Efficient technology
Geothermal Energy Cons
- High upfront costs with implementing geothermal energy
- More suitable for new home builds, as it requires large scale excavation
- Electricity is still needed for heat pumps
- Geothermal energy with wells requires a large usage of water
- Discharge into the earth could include sulfur dioxide and silica
- Fewer installers than standard HVAC
- Large scale geothermal power plants are dangerous to earth’s surface
- Damage to underground loops (tree coots, rodents) can be costly to fix
If you want a geothermal heating or cooling system in lieu of traditional air conditioning/furnace, contact United Home Comfort in Bowling Green. Our team has the necessary experience in installing efficient geothermal systems.
