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Homeowners in virtually every region of the country are enjoying a high level of comfort and significantly reducing their energy use today by heating and cooling their homes with geothermal heat pumps (GHPs).  Click on the graphic below for a short video describing how this great technology works.

Watch more videos here.

This marvelous technology relies primarily on the Earth’s natural thermal energy, a renewable resource, to heat or cool a home or commercial building. The only additional energy GHP systems require is the small amount of electricity they employ to concentrate what Mother Nature provides and then to circulate high-quality heating and cooling throughout the building.

Homeowners who use GHP systems give them superior ratings because of their ability to deliver comfortably warm air, even on the coldest winter days, and because of their extraordinarily low operating costs. As an additional benefit, GHP systems can provide inexpensive hot water, either to supplement or replace entirely the output of a conventional, domestic water heater.

Geothermal heating and cooling is cost effective because it uses energy so efficiently. This makes it very environmentally friendly, too. For these reasons, agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy recognize it.

Read more: What Is A Geothermal Heat Pump?

Geothermal heating and air conditioning is rapidly growing throughout North America.  Interested in joining us?  Engineers and system designers can become Certified GeoExchange ^® Designers through the Association of Energy Engineers with training provided by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

Heating and air conditioning contractors, drilling companies and excavators can expand business opportunities by taking IGSHPA Accredited Installer Training or IGSHPA Accredited Driller Training. This training also includes training in heat fusion of high density polyethylene (HDPE) geothermal pipe and fitting.

For more information, contact AEE at http://www.aeecenter.org/certification/ and IGSHPA at http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/training/training.htm

Central heating systems have been considered a necessity in our homes and businesses for many years. When comparing available systems, consumers should carefully consider safety, installation cost, operating costs, maintenance costs, and comfort.

Types of Systems

There are two basic types of systems — those that require a flame to operate (i.e., combustion based), and those that do not. Most central systems presently installed create heat by combustion, just as they did in the early part of the century. These systems use a furnace to burn a fossil fuel (such as oil, natural gas or propane) or, in some instances, wood. More advanced, non-combustion systems operate by transferring or moving heat from one location to another.

Read more: Comparing Systems