I recently spent a great deal of time researching different types of heating and cooling options.
My husband and I were in the process of planning our new home.
Building a home from scratch is a huge project with a whole bunch of important decisions. I didn’t want to make a mistake that we’d regret for the next twenty years. In the area where we live, we need temperature control throughout the year. Rather than purchase two separate units, I hoped to find a system that would provide both heating and cooling. Energy efficiency was also a major priority. I really liked the sounds of an electric heat pump. This type of HVAC system doesn’t burn fossil fuels to generate heat. There’s no combustion, flames, fumes or chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. When I checked into the different models of heat pumps, I came across geothermal systems. While a geothermal heat pump is way more expensive to both purchase and install, it pays for itself in energy savings. Most people recover the investment in under five years. The geothermal heat pump draws from the relatively stable underground temperature, taking advantage of a free energy source. It simply moves heat between the ground and the home, switching direction of operation depending on demand for either heating or cooling. The system we chose features a high efficiency MERV filter that ensures exceptional indoor air quality. It traps dust, pollen and all sorts of allergens and effectively circulates the air to keep it feeling fresh and clean. The system not only handles our heating and cooling, but also supplements our hot water needs.