Geothermal Heat Pump

Equipment and Systems - Heat Pumps pillar

Also known as: ground-source heat pump, GSHP

A heat pump that exchanges heat with the earth via buried loops rather than outdoor air. Higher efficiency, much higher install cost.

Geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps circulate fluid through buried loops (vertical wells or horizontal trenches) where the soil temperature is a stable 7 to 10C year-round. This means the heat pump always operates near optimal conditions, achieving COP 4.0 to 5.5 in heating and SEER2 25 to 35 in cooling. Typical Ontario install: $25,000 to $50,000 (vertical wells) or $20,000 to $35,000 (horizontal). Federal Greener Homes Loan covers up to $40,000 interest-free. Payback typically 12 to 18 years versus a high-efficiency gas furnace.

See the full Ontario HVAC and home energy glossary or browse the Heat Pumps pillar.