The US commercial building sector wastes 30% of its energy, resulting in significant financial and environmental costs. To address this, facility executives are looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Heat pumps, particularly geothermal heat pumps, can play a crucial role in achieving this goal. Geothermal heat pumps use the Earth’s thermal energy to provide heating and cooling, and can be four to six times more efficient than fossil fuel-based systems. Despite their potential, geothermal heat pumps are underutilized, with only 1% of US buildings using them.
Recent advances in technology have made geothermal heat pumps more feasible, even in urban areas. They can deliver up to 80% energy savings, 67% lower carbon emissions, and 25% cost reductions compared to traditional gas-based systems. Facility executives can benefit from transitioning to geothermal heat pumps, not only by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions but also by increasing the value of their buildings through “green certification.” By leveraging the Earth’s thermal energy, facility executives can play a leading role in transforming the US commercial heating and cooling sector and achieving significant financial and reputational benefits.