When my fiance and I bought a piece of house in Birmingham, Alabama, and decided to build a house, my pal and I debated on different types of heating and cooling systems! The local weather necessitates both heating and cooling, making energy efficiency quite substantial, and my friend and I entirely didn’t want to get stuck paying substantial energy costs every month, year after year. My friend and I were looking for an choice that could handle hot and cold temperatures from the low thirties to the high nineties… Due to excess moisture in the summer, dehumidification capabilities were also a priority. My friend and I wanted compact device that would operate quietly and reliably and supply cost-effective longevity, and environmental responsibility was also a focus. My friend and I designed our house to minimize our carbon footprint; After a superb deal of research and consideration, my pal and I decided on a geothermal heat pump. Although the initial investment was significantly higher than any other type of system, the savings on weekly energy costs promised to recover the cost within five years, but with the heat pump installed inside the house and protected from the weather, it can be expected to last upwards of twenty years. The underground loop system is warrantied for fifty years however should last twice that long. The excavation to implement the underground loop was a big part of the start up costs! However, there are tax incentives available, and we’re saving about 50% on our heating and cooling bills. The geothermal heat pump also provides virtually free hot water. Having a single unit covering both heating and cooling reduces maintenance needs. My friend and I like that operation is appealingly quiet and clean. There is no worry over yellowhouse gasses such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or formaldehyde. The heat pump effectively combats high humidity and manages perfect year-round comfort.