1.0Citizens Utility Boardhttps://www.citizensutilityboard.orgrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="SShatTW1fF"><a href="https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2023/04/03/announcing-grow-geo-chicagoland-get-the-details-on-cubs-new-geothermal-heat-pump-group-buy/">Get the details on geothermal heat pumps</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2023/04/03/announcing-grow-geo-chicagoland-get-the-details-on-cubs-new-geothermal-heat-pump-group-buy/embed/#?secret=SShatTW1fF" width="600" height="338" title="“Get the details on geothermal heat pumps” — Citizens Utility Board" data-secret="SShatTW1fF" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> By: David Weaver Carbon-Free Buildings Coordinator  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that geothermal heat pumps are the most energy-efficient system to heat and cool buildings and water. But how do they work? Will they work for my home? How much money will it save me? Should I make the investment?  When I was asked to research a few questions about geothermal heat pumps for a consumer, I had no idea it would lead me down a path to talking to consumers and experts across our state, visiting networked geothermal buildings and working to reduce barriers for consumers. Keep reading to learn about these incredibly efficient systems and if one might be a good fit for your home. What are geothermal heat pumps and how do they work? Heat pump systems are another method for heating and cooling your home in a more energy-efficient and cost-effective manner. Much like a refrigerator, heat pump systems utilize electricity to move heat from cool spaces to warm spaces and vice versa. In the case of geothermal heat pumps, they move heat from the ground to your home or from your home to the ground. They can even move this heat to your water providing extremely efficient water heating. Because heat pump systems move heat rather than generate it, they are a more economically sound way of warming your home. Geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy costs by up to 70 percent compared to traditional heating and cooling systems.  Are they capable of keeping my home comfortable? Geothermal heat pumps are incredibly reliable and capable of ensuring comfort for homeowners year-round. Whereas furnaces and most radiators rely on burning natural gas to create heat, geothermal heat pumps simply move heat to and from the ground which is much more energy efficient. And as the ground a few feet below the surface remains in the 50–60 degree temperature range year-round, these systems are resilient to extreme weather conditions. Just be sure your installer uses the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Manuel J for heat gain-heat loss calculations. That will ensure they “right-size” your system (make it the optimal size) and perform yearly maintenance.   (Got a good story about a heat pump? Reach out to CUB’s Zoe Huspen.)  What’s this going to cost and save me? There are many variables when factoring in both the upfront cost and energy savings associated with installing geothermal heat pumps. The prices can vary significantly based on the home, labor costs, drilling costs and model type. However, $30,000 is a representative price for your average-sized home. Fortunately, there has never been a better time to install such a system, as there are many incentives to help reduce the cost of geothermal heat pumps. The Inflation Reduction Act has created incentives for heat pumps that can be combined with existing utility company rebates. There is a 30 percent federal renewable energy tax credit for the total cost of installation. (This tax credit is uncapped, and it can be spread over multiple tax years.) On top of that, consumers can get a $2,000 energy efficiency tax credit for heat pumps. Learn more about […]https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Geothermal-Heat-Pump-Diagram-Better-Heat-Guide.png