Go Off The Grid With A Ground-Source Heat Pump

Posted on: 17 September 2014

What would it be like if you could heat or cool your home without worrying about an increase in your heating bill? What would it be like if you could cut out the high costs of heating and cooling your home from your monthly budget? If you like the thought of not paying for running an HVAC system in your home, you should consider whether a ground-source heat pump is right for you. 

How a Ground-Source Heat Pump Works

A ground-source heat pump will have a set of coils buried in the ground outside of your home. The reason for this is that at a depth of 5-10 feet, the temperature stays between 50-60 degrees year round. This is the ideal temperature range for a heat pump. An air-source heat pump, which has a set of above-ground outside coils, can achieve an impressive efficiency rating of up to 250% if outside temperatures are moderate. In contrast, a ground-source heat pump can achieve efficiency ratings of up to 600%. Thus, by tapping into the cooler and more consistent temperatures of the earth as opposed to the air, heat pumps are a highly efficient HVAC system in and of themselves.

How to Take Your Heat Pump off the Grid

Ground-source heat pumps use electricity to power pumps that move refrigerant through the system. The electricity to run these pumps can easily be provided by solar panels or by a wind turbine. Thus, if you have the budget to install solar energy in your home, you should easily be able to set up your heat pump to run off the electricity provided by the solar panels. If you worry that you don't get enough sunlight in your area to provide the electricity you require, wind energy might be another option.

The Cost of a Ground-Source Heat Pump

The cost of a heat pump will depend on the conditions present on your property. On average, a heat pump will cost between $20,000 to $25,000. This is a lot of money to pay for an HVAC system, but if you can eliminate your future heating and cooling costs, you can make surviving month to month more easy and eventually recoup the cost of installation. 

If you are sick of the high costs associated with heating and cooling your home, you should consider options that will free you from the cycle of monthly HVAC bills. The cost of a ground-source heat pump is extreme, but the prospect of ending your bondage to your air conditioner and furnace just might make the high initial cost worth it. 

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