Despite a flagging economy and depressed housing market, commercial geothermal heating and cooling system installations were up 150 percent last year over 2008. Gulf Power also logged 72 residential geothermal heating and cooling system installations in 2009 as interest continues to build.

 

With more than 15 miles of underground piping including 135 loops 300 feet deep and stretching over an area nearly 2,000 feet long, the Grand Marlin’s geothermal system on Pensacola Beach is one of the largest in the area. Phillip Napier, owner of the new Grand Marlin restaurant on Pensacola Beach, said choosing geothermal was easy.

 

“I’m very interested in geothermal,” Napier said. “I’ve been putting geothermal in my homes for many years. We’ve run the equipment a fair bit while we were training and preparing to open the restaurant, and I’ve been very pleased with our energy usage for that time period. With the Grand Marlin I’m cautiously optimistic that we hit a home run with geothermal.”

 

Lee House Bed & Breakfast Inn on Bayfront Parkway is another site of a recent geothermal heating and cooling system installation. Owners Norma and Pat Murray, who already had a positive impression of geothermal, studied the idea for their bed and breakfast. When they saw the projected energy savings they made the decision to go geothermal.

 

“We are extremely pleased with the geothermal system,” said Norma Murray. “We’ve had a geothermal unit in our Gulf Breeze house for about 24 years. They’re more efficient and less maintenance.

 

“All of our equipment is on the third floor,” said Murray, “there’s nothing outside at all.”

 

Pat Murray has been busy calculating savings.

 

“We’re getting an 8 to 10 percent return on our investment,” said Murray. “I felt the initial cost would be worth the investment, and it was. This is an efficient system.”

 

Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesperson, said it’s easy for business owners to see the advantages of a geothermal heating and cooling system.

 

“Ground temperature and soil type in our region is perfectly suited for geothermal,” Rogers said. “With geothermal heating and cooling, the customer not only saves on their energy purchases, but also on maintenance — since there are no outside units. Once they see this and calculate the savings, they see it’s the smartest move for their investment.”

 

Geothermal heating and cooling systems take advantage of the Earth’s relatively constant temperature — a renewable energy source — and save as much as 40 percent on energy costs. Here’s how geothermal works — a closed-loop system connects an indoor heat pump with plastic piping buried outdoors. The system circulates water through these underground pipes where it is warmed by the earth in the winter and cooled by the earth in the summer. This natural heating and cooling action, in conjunction with heat pump technology, can maintain indoor spaces at a constant, comfortable temperature.

 

Benefits

• Energy Savings – Customers can cut heating and cooling costs in half. Add optional hot water units to save even more.
• Comfort – Constant temperatures are easier to maintain.
• Low Maintenance – Fewer mechanical components and no outdoor equipment make repairs less likely.
• Durability – Closed-loop systems lie underground, protected from harsh weather and salt air in coastal areas.
• Quiet – Enjoy your patio, pool or deck without noisy outdoor units.
• Gulf Power Customers can receive a $400/ton rebate when they install a geothermal system at their home or business. They’re also eligible for a federal tax incentive.

 

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility that serves more than 428,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.