Canada's Geothermal heat pump sales have grown an astounding 50% since last year, and it' s helping to boost the growth of US companies too. Indiana based Waterfurnace Renewable Energy reported in August that offsetting the U.S. housing crunch, they have seen a surge in sales north of the border. "Canadian sales were up 119 per cent versus the same quarter last year. Ontario has grown the most. It's up 200 per cent," said Waterfurnace CEO, Bruce Ritchie.
Their second quarter sales soared to $31.3 million. "It's a phenomenal number, especially if you keep in mind that it's only for retrofits, and only retrofits that have applied for government incentives."
And that installing a heat pump can set you back $25,000 or so, though Canadians can qualify for between $8,000 and $9,000 in energy efficiency rebates. Ritchie attributes the Canadian growth to strong government incentives, a healthier economy, and increased environmental awareness. And those cold winters, I'll bet factor in there somewhere.
No matter what climate you live in, you can benefit from using less energy to heat or cool your house, if your temperatures vary throughout the year. For some climates that means blazing summers and frigid winters. What many people don't realize is that the temperature below ground actually stays fairly consistent all year. The ground is able to maintain a more consistent temperature because it absorbs about half of the suns heat as it hits the Earth's surface. Geothermal systems tap into this stable earth temperature to create a free supply of warmth in winter and cool temperatures in summer to reduce the additional energy needed to heat or cool your home.
Diagram from After Gutenberg
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