Meet the cleanest, greenest all-in-one system for heating and cooling your home.
A ground-source heat pump offers the most energy efficient system for heating, cooling, and potentially hot water in a single unit.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions than heating and cooling with oil, propane, natural gas, and electric resistance
Save money on utility bills compared to heating with propane, oil, or electric resistance
Heating and cooling in one system
Once installed, no equipment is visible from outside
Also known as a geothermal heat pump, a ground-source heat pump exchanges heat through piping buried in the ground. In the winter, it absorbs the abundant, renewable heat in the ground to heat your home. In the summer, when the air is warmer than the ground, it uses the cooler temperature of the earth to reduce the temperature of the air in your home.
New construction | System replacements | Whole home heating and cooling
This Old House | 3 min. 55 sec.
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how to capture the heat buried deep in the ground.
Ezekiel feels that “a sustainable future needs to be profitable, more fun and more comfortable, or there’s no chance of it getting done.’”
Electric Heating and Cooling Rebates: Up to $15,000 for a whole home ground-source heat pump system. May be up to $30,000 if your household is eligible for Enhanced Rebates.
If you live in a town served by a Municipal Light Plant (MLP) check your MLP’s website for incentives and rebates.
Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs): One-time payment provided to homeowners installing ground-source heat pumps. A 2,000 square foot home with a whole-home system could receive around 300 AECs, worth approximately $1,500-$3,600.
Cost after incentives is estimated by subtracting Mass Save rebate of $15,000, AECs worth $3,600, and Federal Tax Credit from up-front cost.
Cost after incentives may be substantially lower if your household qualifies for income-scaled State and Federal rebates.
Example up-front cost before incentives
$45,000
Example cost after Massachusetts incentives and Federal Tax Credits:
$18,500
Do you want to save on your energy bills?
Switching to ground-source heat pumps could save you hundreds or thousands on your home energy bills every year.
Is your home heating or cooling system approaching the end of its life?
If your heating/cooling system is reaching the end of its expected lifetime, consider replacing it with a ground-source heat pump before it fails.
Are you expecting to stay in your home for several years?
Ground-source heat pumps are the most efficient system available, but will cost more up front to install. If you’re planning on moving in a few years, you might not be able to benefit from all of the potential energy savings offered by ground-source heat pumps.
Are you considering a new construction project?
Ground-source heat pumps can be cheaper to install in new construction projects. Consider designing your home for geothermal from day one!
Are you concerned about outdoor aesthetics?
Ground-source heat pumps don’t have outdoor condensers like central air conditioners or air source heat pumps. All of your outdoor equipment will be buried in the ground, and the heat pump itself will take up no more room than your existing furnace or boiler.
Is your house weatherized (i.e., well-insulated and air-sealed)?
Weatherized homes require less energy to heat, which will allow you to install a smaller GSHP system (less drilling!), reducing the cost of installing a GSHP system and lowering the operating cost.
Pledge to reduce your home’s carbon footprint by replacing old systems and appliances with clean energy technologies over time.
