U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Tribal Energy Program

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) can make use of the stable temperatures in the upper 10 feet of the Earth to provide both heating and cooling to buildings. The surrounding soil, groundwater, or nearby surface water is used as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer.

GHP systems consist of three parts: the ground heat exchanger, the heat pump unit, and the air delivery system (piping and ductwork). In winter, when the ground is warmer than the air, the geothermal heat pump removes heat from the ground heat exchanger and pumps it into the indoor air delivery system. In summer, when the ground is cooler than the air, the process is reversed and the geothermal heat pump moves heat from the indoor air stream into the ground heat exchanger. 

Geothermal heat pumps reduce both heating and cooling costs compared to air source heat pumps and air conditioners in both residential and commercial buildings. They have low operating and maintenance costs and, usually, the lowest life-cycle costs of the available heating and cooling options. Consumption of electricity is reduced 25% - 50% compared to traditional heating and cooling systems, allowing a payback of system installation costs in 0 - 10 years.

Called by a variety of names—earth-source heat pumps, GeoExchange systems, ground-coupled heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, and water-source heat pumps—GHPs are known for their low environmental impact, quiet operation, and energy efficiency. Today, more than 500,000 geothermal heat pumps have been installed nationwide, including more than 500 in schools.

Various ways to configure a geothermal heat pump system. (Source: The Geo-Heat Center's Survival Kit for the Prospective Geothermal Heat Pump Owner (PDF 229 KB)).

To learn more about geothermal heat pump systems, visit the following links:

• Geothermal heat pumps — An excellent resource, this DOE Web site provides information on the following GHP-related topics:

  • Types of geothermal heat pumps systems

  • Choosing and installing geothermal heat pumps

  • Operating and maintaining a geothermal heat pump system

• Survival Kit for the Prospective Geothermal Heat Pump Owner (PDF 229 KB) — Provided by the Geo-Heat Center at the Oregon Institute of Technology, this in-depth manual for prospective owners provides answers to questions such as:

  • What does it cost to install?

  • How does the cost of heating with a GHP compare to other heating modes?

  • How much will it save?

  • How much of the job can I do myself?

  • Should I use vertical, horizontal, or open loop?

  • Who makes the best equipment?

  • How do I find a contractor?

• Direct use database — A searchable database of direct use project information.

Cavett Elementary School is one of several schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, to use geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling.