The first Earth Day took place in the spring of 1970 and was essentially an informative event to address worldwide environmental issues. Today, Earth Day, which is set for April 22, is a day of action around the globe. It is celebrated by almost 200 countries and is aimed at awareness and implementation of ideas and practices that can lead to a happy and environmentally-healthy planet.
The HVAC industry certainly has a role to fill in Earth Day and in promoting environmental protection throughout the year. Traditional heating and cooling systems have become much more energy efficient in the past few decades and newer systems are fueled by refrigerant that is less damaging to the environment and ozone layer.
However, perhaps the biggest improvement in recent years in the industry is the emergence and ever-growing popularity of geothermal heating and cooling. Here at Armstrong Plumbing, Heating, Air, we are excited about the benefits of geothermal energy and are proud to offer geothermal heat pump systems to our Lubbock, Texas customers.
Geothermal heating and cooling works using a geothermal loop system which is installed in the earth near your home and connected to a geothermal pump inside your home. The pump sucks heat from your home, transports it to the loop where it is cooled and then returned to your home. The climate-controlled air can be circulated through the home via a traditional ductwork system or ductless blowers/mini splits. The process is reversed when delivering warm air to your home.
Here are just a few of the environmental benefits of geothermal heating and cooling:
Energy Efficiency
- The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that roughly 70 percent of all the energy used by geothermal heat pump systems is renewable energy in the ground. This results in less energy consumption and can reduce utility bills by as much as 40-50 percent.
Cleaner Energy
- Traditional centralized AC systems burn refrigerant and fossil fuels onsite, which produces gaseous emissions that are harmful to the environment and can damage the ozone layer.
- Because geothermal systems do not burn these same fossil fuels, they do not emit the same gaseous byproducts, including potentially hazardous carbon monoxide within a home or building.
- While the geothermal pumps are powered by electricity, it still results in much less energy consumption and harmful emissions than traditional systems.
Earth Day 2019 is a great opportunity to help promote environmental safety and preservation of our planet. But with a geothermal system, you can do your part year-round, all while enjoying a more efficient and cost-saving HVAC system. Better Call Armstrong today and learn about our geothermal systems. Please visit us on Facebook and Twitter, too.
