Since Wisconsin Log Homes' focus has always been on energy-efficiency, it's very important to us that each of our homes are heated and cooled in the most efficient, economical way possible. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems are "the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today." Geothermal is 3 - 5 times as efficient as the most efficient fossil fuel furnace.
Extremely high levels of efficiency are possible because a geothermal heat pump only uses electricity to move heat, not produce it. A geothermal system supplies 4-5 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used. 3-4 of these kilowatts of heat come directly from the earth, meaning that they are naturally clean, renewable, and best of all - free.
Geothermal heat pumps also take advantage of the mild ground temperature for high efficiency cooling. The earth has the ability to absorb and store heat energy. To use that stored energy, heat is extracted from the earth through a liquid medium (either water or anti-freeze solution) and is pumped to the heat pump heat exchanger, where the heat is used to heat your home. In summer, the process is reversed and indoor heat is extracted from your home and transferred to the earth through the liquid. Most systems also include a hot water generator, which diverts a portion of the supplied heat to the domestic water heater. This provides a substantial portion of a family's hot water needs at a very low cost. So essentially, geothermal systems transfer heat from your home to the earth in the cooling mode, and from the earth to your home in the heating mode.
A geothermal system installed in an already efficient Wisconsin Log Home (http://www.wisconsinloghomes.com/log-homes/insulated-building-system.php) will substantially reduce heating and cooling costs for years to come. So even though you are spending a little more upfront, you'll be saving money before you know it. Payback for most geothermal systems run about three to five years. Some states also offer tax credits for installing this system, check with your local utility company for details.
For more information about geothermal, go to http://www.geoexchange.org/, or contact us today to talk with our independent geothermal specialist.
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