Ground Source Heating and Cooling
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One way to significantly reduce the environmental impact of heating and cooling your home is to install a ground source heat pump (GSHP
In winter, when heating is required, the GSHP transfers heat from the Earth to the interior of the building. In summer, when cooling is required, the Earth is used as a giant heat sink. This is the most efficient way to actively heat and cool a home.
There are many different configurations of GSHPs that can be used, including open loop, which use wells or large bodies of open water, and closed loop systems, which pump refrigerant or water through horizontal or vertical pipes.
A group of four engineering students from Carleton University produced an overview of the technology behind ground source heat pumps for KEN. GSHP document.
Under programs offered by the federal and Ontario governments, upgrades to each home or multi-unit residential building can quality for up to $10,000 in grants and rebates. Both the federal and provincial rebates are available through the EcoENERGY Retrofit program offered by Natural Resources Canada. More information is available at www.ontario.ca. The program is constantly changing because of federal and provincial government modifications, so check these websites frequently!
