Efficiency & Geothermal

Compact flourescent lightbulbs are one of the easiest ways for consumers to increase energy efficiency in their homes.

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 a year on its home's utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. The amount of energy wasted just through poorly insulated windows and doors is about as much energy as we get from the Alaskan pipeline each year. And electricity generated by fossil fuel for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. By using a few inexpensive energy-efficient measures, you can reduce your energy bills by 10 to 50 percent and, at the same time, help reduce air pollution.

Geothermal

The geothermal process is based on a simple premise: Below the frost line — usually about four feet deep — the earth is a constant temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. During the winter, the heat pump absorbs heat from the ground and uses it to warm the air in your home. In the warmer summer months, the process is reversed, taking heat from your home and transferring it back into the ground.

The basic elements of a geothermal system include: underground loops of plastic piping, a liquid antifreeze system, a heat pump, and an air distribution system.