GeoExchange technology for residential use is growing rapidly as homeowners seek to protect themselves from the volatile price of electricity, gas and oil.

Application

GHPs can be applied to virtually any size residential building as well as specialized applications such as swimming pools or greenhouses. The vertical ground loops average 400 feet in length per ton of capacity thus sites with limited space are usually not a problem. Horizontal loops may be 600 to 1000 feet per ton, depending on soil type.

Performance/Costs

GHPs energy cost savings vary with the electric rates, climate loads, soil conditions, and other factors. In residential building applications, typical annual energy savings are in the range of 30 to 60 percent compared to conventional HVAC equipment.

Unlike air source units, GHP systems do not need defrost cycles nor expensive backup electric resistance heat when outdoor air temperatures are very low. The stable temperature of a ground source is a tremendous benefit to the longevity and efficiency of the compressor.

A residential GHP system is more expensive to install than a conventional heating system and it is most cost-effective when operated year-round for both heating and cooling. In such cases, the incremental payback period can be as short as 3–5 years. A GHP for a new residence will cost approximately 9-12% of the home construction cost. A typical forced air furnace with flex ducting system will cost in the range of 5-6%.

Stated in another way, the complete cost of a residential ground source heat pump system is $3,500-$5,500 per ton. In a heating dominated residence, figure around 550 square feet/ton to size the unit. A cooling dominated residence would be estimated around 450 square feet/ton. Horizontal loop installations will generally cost less than vertical bores.

	For a comparison of Gas, Electric and Heat Pump costs in Vancouver, Canada
	Residential Earth Energy Systems - a Buyer's Guide by Natural Resources Canada