Combining Geothermal Heating and Solar Power
The renewable energy debate often focuses on comparing and contrasting green technologies like solar power and geothermal heating and cooling. Which is the more cost-effective alternative? Which is best for the environment? While solar power is clearly the more popular of the two resources, there are plenty of people (ourselves included) backing geothermal. Obviously, we believe that geo has the potential to be as widespread and well-known as solar, and that, one day, it will be.
All of that aside, there are some people that don’t think quite so linearly. Rather than comparing the two technologies, some homeowners have combined them. But how? How do you combine a geothermal heat pump and solar panels to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system? Let’s take a look.
Now that’s what we call an efficient home! As you can see, geothermal and solar don’t necessarily have to be opposing alternatives. In the right climate, they can work in conjunction to cut costs (70-80% in the case above) and preserve our natural resources. Not to mention, your home tours with guests will be a little more interesting!
We recently installed our first geothermal system a few months ago and let me tell you it was a learning experience. Being in San Antonio, it is very effective from an energy efficiency standpoint, but it is extremely hard to install the loop. Clay is extremely dense and tough to carve through.
We’ve also installed a few Sun Source Solar air conditioning systems from Lennox and our customers are very happy with their energy savings and cooling performance. Thanks for sharing!
I think that any energy source that is renewable and doesn’t harm the environment to create is definitely better than what we are using now. I’m an equal advocate of both geothermal heating techniques and solar power.