It is important to my husband and I that we are environmentally responsible.
We make an effort to lessen our carbon footprint. Whenever possible we walk, ride our bicycles or take public transportation. We recycle our glass bottles and jars, metal cans and paper and use our organic kitchen waste to compost a vegetable garden. My husband devised a system to collect rainwater to irrigate the garden. When we built our home, we went to great lengths to minimize impact on the environment. One of the biggest yet most beneficial investments was our geothermal heat pump. This type of heating and cooling system makes use of the relatively stable underground temperature. Rather than burn fossil fuels to generate heat, it pulls from the free and renewable energy provided by the sun. The system includes an underground loop that draws heat from the ground and transfers it into the home during the winter. In the summer, the system reverses direction, pulling heat out of the house and delivering it into the ground. This process is not only safe and clean but eliminates greenhouse gas emissions. The heat pump achieves a 400% efficiency rating. It produces four units of energy for every one required to operate the equipment. Plus, the geothermal heat pump generates a free source of hot water. My husband and I have taken the rewards a step further by installing solar panels to handle our electrical needs. The solar panels are able to power the geothermal heat pump. We pay nothing to heat and cool our house.