EIA Reports

U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON DC 20585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 1998

Geothermal Heat Pumps Penetrating Market

Results of the first-ever Energy Information Administration's (EIA) survey of geothermal heat pump manufacturers showed 155,406 geothermal heat pumps were shipped during the period 1994 through 1996. Based on the data released today, 49 percent of geothermal heat pumps were shipped to the South, followed by 23 percent to the Midwest, and 13 percent to the Northeast.

Geothermal heat pumps absorb heat from the ground or ground water and transfer it to a building in winter, then reverse to draw heat from the building and return it to the ground in summer. Geothermal heat pumps are more efficient than conventional air conditioners or heat pumps that use the outdoor air because the temperature of the ground or ground water a few feet below the earth's surface remains relatively constant throughout the year.

Depending on the location, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumption and, correspondingly, emissions by more than 20 percent compared to high-efficency outside air heat pumps. Operating in all regions of the country, geothermal heat pumps provide space heating and cooling, and hot water heating for residential and commercial buildings.

Although geothermal heat pumps are generally more expensive to install than outside air heat pumps, their use can result in:

Reduced energy consumption
Lower energy bills
Lower emissions of carbon and other air pollutants.

Collaborative alliances among Government, the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, and the geothermal industry have expanded consumer awareness and acceptance of geothermal heat pumps. Such efforts have resulted in greater use of geothermal heat pumps where electric utilities and electric service companies provide attractive financing, rebates, guaranteed utility rates, shared savings contracts, and equipment leasing arrangements.

Data on shipments of geothermal heat pumps by specific manufacturers are confidential. Aggregated data and a description of how geothermal heat pumps operate are available on EIA's Web site at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/renewable.energy.annual/rea97/geo_heat_pump/geoweb.html. The aggregated data also will be available in the Renewable Energy Annual 1997, Volume II, scheduled to be released in July 1998.

The report described in this press release was prepared by the Energy Information Administration, the independent statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. The information contained in the report and the press release should be attributed to the Energy Information Administration and should not be construed as advocating or reflecting any policy position of the Department of Energy or any other organization.

EIA Program Contact: Peter Holihan (202) 426-1147
EIA Press Contact: Jonathan Cogan (202) 586-8719

EIA-98-07

Contact:

National Energy Information Center

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