Are ground source heat pumps a good heat source?
• We think not. The capital cost is very high and they consume electricity, an expensive source of energy. As far as payback is concerned, consider this: If a ground source heat pump costs $15,000 more than a gas or oil system for a 2,000 sq. ft. home, at 8.5% financing the payback is never. Finance charges would be $1,200 which would exceed the entire gas or oil bill and this is before the costs of the electricity required to run the heat pump.
