A study has been done to determine the feasibility of using a geothermal heat pump system to heat outdoor swimming pools in the United States and for those of you living in warm, southern climates the results were promising!While geothermal heat pumps are a viable alternative energy solution in any climate, homeowners in warmer climates could find themselves saving even more by using a ground source heat pump to heat their pool. In warmer, southern climates a geothermal heat pump is used more often to cool a home, drawing the heat from inside the home and transferring it to the ground. As opposed to sending the heat removed from the home to the ground homeowners with a pool can use the air from the home to heat a pool.The study, conducted by the Geo-Heat Center looked at the heating and cooling loads for homes in Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA. The study showed that homes in Charlotte, Dallas, and Los Angeles were able to reduce their loop sizes by up to 20% with the addition of a pool.Since much of the geothermal heat pump costs are associated with the length and size of a loop field, the reduction is size results in a reduction in cost! By installing a geothermal heat pump in a home with a pool the savings would be immediate!We should mention, the study did show that using a geothermal heat pump to heat a pool in northern areas of the United States actually requires an increase in loop field size because the heating loads are so much great. However, no matter where you live, a geothermal heat pump is a great investment for both your pocket and the environment. Click here to read about geothermal heat pumps as an investment.To see the original study, click here.
