The Smart Guide to Geothermal: How to Harvest Earth's Free Energy for Heating and Cooling

Discover why geothermal heating and cooling is the most energy efficient technology available to homeowners, and how all homes--new or retrofit, in hot or cold climates--can use this reliable, silent, non-polluting way of extracting free energy from the earth.

Contents:
- Geothermal system options, including open-loop, closed-loop and DX configurations, using horizontal and vertical earth loops
- The importance of finding a qualified contractor
- Costs, tax credits and payback issues, plus calculating increased home values
- Who is using geothermal energy, including the author s firsthand experiences, home profiles from around the country as well as an overview of commercial/institutional projects
- How solar electricity can be used to power the system, plus other future trends
- Unraveling the science and technology of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs)
- Understanding GHP performance standards, ratings and warranties
- Comprehensive appendix with helpful resources (manufacturers, associations, etc.) and a career section for those interested in entering the field