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The biggest benefit of GHPs is that
they use 25%–50% less electricity than conventional heating or
cooling systems. This translates into a GHP using one unit of
electricity to move three units of heat from the earth. According to
the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption—and
corresponding emissions—up to 44% compared to air-source heat pumps
and up to 72% compared to electric resistance heating with standard
air-conditioning equipment. GHPs also improve humidity control by
maintaining about 50% relative indoor humidity, making GHPs very
effective in humid areas.
Geothermal heat pump systems allow for design flexibility and can be
installed in both new and retrofit situations. Because the hardware
requires less space than that needed by conventional HVAC systems,
the equipment rooms can be greatly scaled down in size, freeing
space for productive use. GHP systems also provide excellent "zone"
space conditioning, allowing different parts of your home to be
heated or cooled to different temperatures.
Because GHP systems have relatively few moving parts, and because
those parts are sheltered inside a building, they are durable and
highly reliable. The underground piping often carries warranties of
25–50 years, and the heat pumps often last 20 years or more. Since
they usually have no outdoor compressors, GHPs are not susceptible
to vandalism. On the other hand, the components in the living space
are easily accessible, which increases the convenience factor and
helps ensure that the upkeep is done on a timely basis.
Because they have no outside condensing units like air conditioners,
there's no concern about noise outside the home. A two-speed
GHP
system is so quiet inside a house that users do not know it is
operating: there are no tell-tale blasts of cold or hot air.
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