TheEnvironment

With concern rising about the environmental impacts of energy use and generation, geothermal exchange is the perfect solution for many people interested in not only saving money but also doing their part to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), geothermal systems significantly reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions. The EPA has also concluded that the geothermal solution is the most energy-efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective heating and cooling approach available.

Today, with more than 1 million installations, geothermal systems in the US are eliminating the emission of more than 5.8 million metric tons of CO2 and more than 1.6 million metric tons of carbon equivalent every year. These 1 million current installations also reduce our need for oil imports by 21.5 million barrels annually. The benefits to the environment are equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road or planting more than 385 million trees.

AdditionalFacts

Here are some additional facts about geothermal systems and the environment:

• Every 100,000 homes with geothermal installations reduces our foreign oil consumption by 2.15 million barrels per year and cuts electricity consumption by 800 million kilowatt hours annually.
  
  
• According to the EPA, geothermal systems can reduce energy use by 40 percent when compared to air source heat pumps and 70 percent when measured against electric resistance heating and standard air-conditioning.
  
  
• Homeowners can save 25 to 50 percent on their utility bills, when compared with more traditional heating and cooling systems.
  
  
• Geothermal systems tap the sun’s heat energy, which is stored in the Earth. In fact, by absorbing the sun’s rays, the Earth contains 500 times the total amount of energy people use each year.
  
  
• The US General Accounting Office (GAO) estimates that a nationwide installation of geothermal systems would save the US billions in annual energy costs while substantially reducing pollution.
  
  
• The current number of US geothermal systems (1 million) has the environmental impact of taking 1.3 million cars off the road or planting more than 385 million trees.
  
  
• Existing geothermal systems slash America’s need for foreign oil by 21.5 million barrels each year.
  
  

JustOneSystem

The environmental impact of even one geothermal installation is significant.

Today, the average system has the effect of:

• Taking 1.3 cars off the road.
• Planting 385 trees.
• Cutting electricity consumption by 8,000 kilowatt hours annually.
• Eliminating the need for 21.5 barrels of imported oil annually.