Geothermal heat pumps are one of the cheapest and most reliable ways to heat
and cool most buildings today.
Geothermal pumps draw energy from the earth, using a series of underground
pipes. In winter, these systems bring the earth’s warmth up into a building, concentrate
it, and distribute it using heat pumps and ventilation systems. In summer, they
work in reverse, extracting heat from inside to be discharged into the cooler earth.
The earth itself supplies the renewable thermal energy, and the systems run with
almost no pollution or greenhouse gas emissions.
Smart Generation shows geothermal pumps can be widely used to provide heating
and cooling for all new residential and commercial buildings in Ontario. By 2010,
Ontario can install 125,000 residential geothermal pumps, saving the equivalent of
7.7 petajoules per year. By 2020, the province can install 341,000 geothermal systems
in new homes, saving the equivalent of 21 petajoules per year (the equivalent of about
750,000 tonnes of coal, or 3.7 million barrels of oil).
Ontario can follow the example set by Manitoba Hydro, which has become a
Canadian leader in geothermal heat pumps. Manitoba Hydro currently offers
homeowners a loan up to $15,000 to install a geothermal heat pump when building
a new home or replacing an old heating system. According to Manitoba Hydro,
installing 1,000 geothermal heat pumps in homes generates $15 million in construction-
related activity.
The City of Winnipeg is developing plans for a 100 per cent geothermal new
subdivision. If built, it would be the largest geothermal housing development in
Canada.
In Ontario, about 8,500 homes and 500 institutional and commercial buildings
are currently using geothermal systems. These systems offset the need for
electricity-hogging air conditioners and heating systems based on electricity
or natural gas.
Geothermal
heat pumps
Manitoba Hydro is leading Canada
in supporting geothermal heat
pumps for a variety of applications,
including homes and other buildings
such as recreation centres.
According to Manitoba Hydro,
the installation of 1,000 geothermal
heat pumps in homes generates
$15 million in construction-related
activity.
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SMART GENERATION: POWERING ONTARIO WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY 11
Economic benefits
The cost to install a geothermal system that can provide 100 per cent of heating and
cooling is about $20,000 for a new 2,000 square foot home in a Toronto subdivision.
The energy savings achieved by installing a geothermal heat pump are considerable.
Annual heating costs are $400, markedly lower compared to $1,000 for electric
furnace or electric baseboards, $1,250 for a gas furnace or $1,600 for a conventional
oil furnace.
Installing 125,000 home geothermal systems could result in 18,750 jobs by 2007.
By 2020, the installation of 341,000 geothermal pumps could create up to
51,150 jobs.
Fast facts
Ontario can use geothermal
energy for 20 per cent of the air
conditioning and water heating
load in all provincial and municipal
buildings by 2010. This level
should rise to 50 per cent by 2020.
Geothermal energy can be widely
used to provide heating and
cooling for all new residential and
commercial buildings in Ontario.
By 2010, Ontario could install
125,000 residential geothermal
systems that would provide
heating and cooling, saving
the equivalent of 2.1 million MWh
per year.
good stuff, david suzuki is my personal hero