| For most homeowners, up to 70 percent of
| |
| | effect and global warming-problems
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| a home's total energy bill goes toward
| |
| | directly linked to the burning of fossil
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| heating, cooling and hot water-so the
| |
| | fuels.
|
| biggest opportunity to save large amounts
| |
| | A typical 2,500-square-foot home with a
|
| of money on their energy bills is to
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| | geothermal system saves the electric
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| increase the efficiency of these systems.
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| | utility company from having to burn more
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| To do this, homeowners across America are
| |
| | than nine additional tons of coal a year,
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| turning to geothermal heating systems.
| |
| | compared to an electric resistance
|
| Geothermal systems, such as the Envision
| |
| | heating system.
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| series by WaterFurnace, capitalize on the
| |
| | The U.S. General Accounting Office
|
| solar energy stored year-round just
| |
| | estimates that if geothermal systems were
|
| beneath the Earth's surface.
| |
| | installed by most people, they could save
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| This free geothermal energy is an
| |
| | several billion dollars annually in
|
| unlimited, renewable resource. And,
| |
| | energy costs and substantially reduce
|
| according to an EPA study titled "Space
| |
| | pollution.
|
| Conditioning, The Next Frontier" (Report
| |
| | For every 100,000 residential units
|
| 430-R-93-004), the Department of Energy
| |
| | installed, it is the equivalent of
|
| and the EPA recognized geothermal systems
| |
| | planting 100,000 acres of trees or taking
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| as the most environmentally friendly,
| |
| | 200,000 cars permanently off the road in
|
| cost-effective and energy-efficient
| |
| | terms of greenhouse gas reduction.
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| heating and cooling technology available.
| |
| | Geothermal heat pumps strengthen U.S.
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| By reducing the demand on electric
| |
| | energy security. Every 100,000 homes with
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| utilities, the need for new power plants
| |
| | geothermal heat pump systems reduce
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| is reduced, along with a reduced need for
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| | foreign oil consumption by 2.15 million
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| natural resources such as coal or gas
| |
| | barrels annually and reduce electricity
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| used to generate electricity. These
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| | consumption by 799 million kilowatt-hours
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| systems also help minimize the threats of
| |
| | annually.
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| acid rain, air pollution, the greenhouse
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| |
|
