According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Geothermal Technologies, some 40% of all emissions of carbon dioxide created in the U.S. are a byproduct of the energy used to heat, cool, and provide hot water in homes. Even the most efficient home heating and cooling systems will use a lot of energy when the temperatures outside get extreme, so if you want to go green and use even less energy in your home, switching to geothermal home heating and cooling systems might be a good idea. They can help change the way you stay comfortable in your home and reduce your carbon footprint.
Though some might feel that geothermal home heating and cooling technology is a still relatively knew and not ready for residential use, the truth is far from that. In reality, the technology has existed for around 50 years and is consistently being updated and improved. Plus, there are already more than a million homes and businesses who have geothermal products installed and are taking advantage of the more efficient home cooling and heating systems. So every homeowner should feel comfortable knowing that they will be satisfied when they make a change.
Of course, when it comes to going green, the financial benefits for homeowners can’t be overlooked. Though it is hard to determine exact savings because every home is different, you can expect to save at least 30% on utility costs and possibly up to 70%. On top of that, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study found that geothermal home heating and cooling systems have the lowest life-cycle among products on the market. That means you won’t have to spend as much on heating and air conditioning repairs or buy new products as soon. When it comes to savings, longevity certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.
Over twenty years, according to the DOE, the carbon footprint reduction from upgrading to a geothermal system would be the equivalent of planting 120,000 acres of trees or turning 58,000 cars into vehicles that produce no emissions. As a result, if you are hoping to go green and make your home less burdensome to the environment, changing the way you heat and cool it is a smart idea. Though converting might require a bit of a financial investment, over time, it will prove to be quite worthwhile. Ger more information on this topic here.