A geothermal heating and cooling system is a major investment. However, this type of system can save a tremendous amount of money in energy bills, a geothermal heat pump works on the same principle as a refrigerator. It simply transfers heat from the ground to the lake house in the Winter, and reverses operation during cooling mode. The program uses long loops of underground pipes filled with an antifreeze solution. The underground loop system is linked to a geothermal heat pump that is installed inside the home. During the Winter, the antifreeze solution pulls heat from the ground and sends it to the heat pump and refrigerant coils where the heat is then distributed via a forced-air system. During the Summer, the pump removes heat from the lake house and transfers it the ground. There is no combustion process to create heat, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. This type of system is exceptionally clean and safe because the underground temperature remains at a relatively stable fifty degrees all year round. The geothermal system requires a lot less energy to cool the home than a conventional air conditioner. Unfortunately, the purchase price and installation of a geothermal system is overwhelming, often adding up to thirty thousand dollars. The investment depends on soil conditions, plot size, system configuration, place accessibility and the amount of drilling required. A geothermal system officially costs forty percent more than implementing a traditional Heating, Ventilation and A/C unit. However, reclaiming the investment could take as little as less than three years. There’s also a variety of federal, state and local financing, rebates and incentives to help with the cost, and the lower operating costs add up to large savings. A geothermal heat pump will trim your heating costs by thirty to sixty percent and cooling costs by up to fifty percent.