Heating in Ames, IA: Save with Geothermal Instead

Did you know that roughly half of all energy that is used by homes goes toward heating and cooling in Ames, IA? The type of heating system you have in your home will have a significant effect on the environment and on your energy bills as well. Both gas furnaces and geothermal heat pumps offer sufficient heating, but it might surprise you to learn that geothermal heating provides advantages over liquid gas, or LP, in both operating costs and energy efficiency.

The Efficiency of Your Heating in Ames, IA

Efficiency is rated by how much of the energy that is used is transformed into usable heat for your home. If you have a unit with a 90% efficiency rating, you should expect that 90% of the fuel used by your furnace is transformed into heat. The remaining amount is what leaves your home through the flue during the heating and combustion process.

The Efficiency of Gas Furnaces and Geothermal Heat Pumps

It is federal law that all gas furnaces sold in the U.S. have a minimum efficiency rating of 78%. Many of the most popular models offer ratings as high as 90 to 95 percent, and those with condensing systems offer ratings as high as 97%.

Geothermal heat pumps rely on an underground looping system, to extract heat from the earth to bring it into the home. The key difference between gas furnaces and geothermal heat pumps is that with geothermal, heat is not created – existing heat is just moved. This allows geothermal heat pumps to operate much more efficiently than even the most efficient furnaces. It is not uncommon for geothermal heat pump systems to have efficiency ratings that are above 100%! This means that these systems actually create more energy than they use.

Cost Differences Between Gas and Geothermal

The difference in energy efficiency between these two types of heating systems translates to major efficiency and cost differences for homeowners. Switching to a geothermal heat pump you could potentially save thousands each year. For more information on geothermal heat pumps and how you could save money on your energy bill, and for heating service in Ames, IA, call on Neighbors!

We proudly serve Ames, Iowa and all surrounding areas. Contact us today!