The Pros & Cons of Geothermal Residences

Pro: Environmentally-Friendly

• Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible resource, which means that removing it from the planet has no permanent negative effects. Unlike fossil fuels such as oil, the Earth generates heat and steam on a regular basis. The Earth even releases this built-up energy on its own, in the form of phenomena like geysers.

  Several options exist for systems that capture this heat energy and either use it to heat the home or heat the water supplied to it. Self-contained systems prevent potentially dangerous gases from being released into the air along with the steam that is drawn up from underground. Homes equipped with these systems have less of an effect on the environment than those that rely completely on fossil fuels.

Con: Expense

• Geothermal systems are not cheap to install. Remodeling an existing home or building a new home that includes a small-scale, contained system can be an expensive endeavor that costs tens of thousands of dollars. Along with heat, geothermal units tap into areas where there are potentially hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulfide. Large industrial plants often have separate facilities for dealing with these unwanted byproducts, but a home system must encompass all parts of the system to make it both efficient and safe.

  Because of the expense of these systems and the cost of labor to install them, it can take more than a decade to recover the cost and begin benefiting from the cost-effectiveness of geothermal power.

Pro: Convenience

• Homeowners who want to do something environmentally responsible may be turned off by the idea of installing large solar panels or having a wind turbine in the back yard to harness other forms of alternative energy. Most of the equipment for a geothermal setup is underground, and the above-ground components are smaller than the typical heating and cooling system that runs off gas or electricity.

  These indoor components are less complex than their counterparts, and are relatively maintenance-free. Because it is installed indoors, the equipment is not susceptible to the weather and, if something does go wrong, it is usually easier to service.

Con: Limited Use

• Unlike solar or wind power, geothermal energy is not converted into a form of electricity or other energy that can be used to power the home. Geothermal systems capture heat and use it to warm the interior of the home or to heat water as needed.

  This cuts down on the electricity or gas bill because the heating system is not running off them. However, installing a geothermal system does not eliminate the need for electricity and it doesn't provide an energy source for other appliances.