Geothermal heating and cooling of buildings is not new. The same U-bend polyethylene pipes used 50 years ago are still commonly used today. However, several significant innovations in geothermal heat pumps and ground-loop heat exchangers have emerged in the last few years and the industry is now trying to take advantage of these recent advancements.
Energy savings from geothermal heating and cooling of buildings are well documented. However, the initial cost, mainly the drilling cost, has been the main barrier to large-scale adoption. Also, the lack of consumer knowledge and confidence due to misconceptions and errors of the past have contributed negatively by overshadowing the long-term benefits. However, all parts of geothermal systems have made significant progress and the technology has now matured to the point where it can compete on fair grounds with all other heating and cooling systems of all sizes.