Heat Pumps vs Air Conditioners


Geothermal heat pumps is a great alternative to air conditioning, and in many cases, switching from a central air conditioning system to a heat pump system is rather direct. 

If you have or want a system based on ducts, you may implement or switch to a ducted heat pump system (if the ducts are large enough). But you may also decide for a heat pump split system instead of ductless or a room air conditioner.

Heat pump systems

The alternative Air Conditioner vs. Heat Pumps is mainly an alternative involving ground-heat pumps (also called geothermal heat pumps). Air heat pumps aren’t such a good alternative: the initial investment is lower than that of ground-heat pumps, but the energy savings aren’t so substantial, or aren’t significant where gas is available as an option.

So, consider first of all the ground-heat pump solution as an alternative to other heating and cooling systems, and namely to air conditioning.


Geothermal Heat pumps Energy savings

According to EPA, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption up to 72% compared to home air-conditioning (and up to 44% compared to air-source heat pumps). These values are very significant, and make ground-heat pumps a very eco-friendly solution, as well as a sound economical solution.

The average savings in home environment range $1,300-$1,500 (where replacing oil, LPG or electricity) and $400-$600 (where replacing gas), according to the Energy Savings Trust.  

Environmental impact

Installing a ground source heat pump may have a very positive impact on energy savings and on CO2 production. A single geothermal home heat pump will avoid the production of around 4-5 tonnes of CO2 per year, that is, around 100 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.

Initial investment: Geothermal heat pumps versus air conditioners

Ground -heat pumps involve an higher investment and pre-conditions that may not exist in urban sites (namely a place for a hole and for digging and installing the pipes).

In a home with ductwork, a standard central air conditioning system may cost you between $3,000 and $6,000, while an equivalent geothermal heat pump (installation included) may cost something around $7,000 to $12,000 (an air-source heat pump cost is closer to the air conditioning system cost).

Just consult a heating and cooling professional. If your duct system is insufficient to support a high-capacity heat pump, you may seek a solution involving a combination of a smaller heat pump (accommodated to the ducts dimensions) with other cooling and heating strategies.

Geothermal Heat Pump vs Air Conditioners Payback

Since the initial investment in a geothermal heat pump is much higher than the investment in a central air conditioning system, the competitiveness of a geothermal heat pump investment depends on the energy savings it allows, and on the cost of that energy (and the energy type).

Since savings provided by a geothermal heat pump may easily attain $1,000 per year, you will recover the initial extra investment (comparatively to the cost of air conditioning) in 6 years or less. All depends on your consumption and on the type of energy you are replacing. If it is gas, then the advantages of geothermal heat pumps is much smaller and the economical advantage may not exist.

See also:
Alternatives to Air Conditioning
High rated air conditioners
Room AC
Ductless AC
Basics on Heat Pumps


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