Use ground-source heat pumps for heating and cooling
High efficiency without burning any fuel directly
Ground-source heat pumps use the Earth's ambient temperature as a source of heat in winter and as a heat sinkWhere heat is dumped by an air conditioner or by a heat pump used in cooling mode; usually the outdoor air or ground. See air-source heat pump and ground-source heat pump. in summer. Heat pumps, which run on electricity, can produce three to four units of heating energy for every unit of energy they consume, and up to six units of cooling energy for every unit of energy input. One of several installation methods can be used. Ground-source heat pumps, however, are expensive and require considerable design and installation expertise. Generally, the amount of energy it takes to pump the heat exchange fluid around the system is not accounted for in the unit's "coefficient of performance" (COPEnergy-efficiency measurement of heating, cooling, and refrigeration appliances. COP is the ratio of useful energy output (heating or cooling) to the amount of energy put in, e.g., a heat pump with a COP of 10 puts out 10 times more energy than it uses. A higher COP indicates a more efficient device . COP is equal to the energy efficiency ratio (EER) divided by 3.415.
)and varies by installation.
Green Points
LEED for HomesLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes is the residential green building program from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). While this program is primarily designed for and applicable to new home projects, major gut rehabs can qualify.
: Up to 4 points for very high efficiency HVAC(Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). Collectively, the mechanical systems that heat, ventilate, and cool a building. equipment (EA 6).
NGBSNational Green Building Standard Based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and passed through ANSI. This standard can be applied to both new homes, remodeling projects, and additions.
/ICC-700: Up to 30 points for a ground-source heat pump with a COP equal to or greater than 4.3 and an energy efficiency ratio of 24 or higher (703.4.5).
Learn more in the Green Building Encyclopedia
Learn more in the Green Product Guide
