Most information you find about geothermal heat pumps is about systems installed in cold climates. I wanted to find out what to expect for systems installed in Florida.

The Florida Panhandle is an ideal place for loop field geothermal systems because the water table is very shallow.  High moisture content in the soil makes the heat exchange more efficient.

A case study

I'm basing my estimates on how well geothermal heat pump systems will do in the Florida Panhandle on a large study done at Fort Polk in Louisiana.  Fort Polk has a very similar climate to the Florida Panhandle.  Summer is long, very hot and very humid.  Winters are mild and short.

This Army post installed geothermal heat pumps in about 4000 Army housing units.  This was a good way to study the benefits because it was possible to accurately measure energy consumption before and after the installation.

• Natural gas use was reduced by 100%...the geothermal system doesn't use gas for heating.
• Winter electricity use was reduced by 32%.
• Summer electricity use was reduced by 43%.

The way I read it these numbers are for overall demand not HVAC only demand.  This means the load reduction for the heating and cooling portion of consumption was cut even more. 

So, I would expect a typical homeowner in northwest Florida would reduce power consumption by about 30% in the winter and 40% in summer.  Of course, in a cold climate, there would be greater savings in winter and less in summer.

Diesel generators have many advantages over gasoline or propane/natural gas generators for remote, backup or emergency power solutions:

• low maintenance
• continuous performance
• capable of using alternative fuel
• lower pollution
• lower noise level
• lower fuel cost
  

 In general, diesel generators will produce more power per cost than other types of generators and are capable of running for extended periods of time without having stand down as gasoline or propane/natural gas generators do.

The only real disadvantage of diesel generators compared to gasoline or natural gas generators is that they cost somewhat more initially.  This extra expense is quickly recovered in reduced maintenance and fuel costs. 

Diesel generators have many advantages over gasoline or propane/natural gas generators for remote, backup or emergency power solutions:

• low maintenance
• continuous performance
• capable of using alternative fuel
• lower pollution
• lower noise level
• lower fuel cost
  

 In general, diesel generators will produce more power per cost than other types of generators and are capable of running for extended periods of time without having stand down as gasoline or propane/natural gas generators do.

The only real disadvantage of diesel generators compared to gasoline or natural gas generators is that they cost somewhat more initially.  This extra expense is quickly recovered in reduced maintenance and fuel costs. 

Some equipment can perform other tasks and double as a backup power source.  Examples of this are diesel arc welding machines and generators made to run from the PTO of a farm tractor. 

This allows the welding machine or tractor to perform routine duty and also function as a backup power source in a pinch.  Obviously, this can be very cost effective compared to dedicated emergency power equipment. 

This is the test results for the Intermatic Solar Shed Light.  It is called a shed light because it makes a good light to put inside a shed or remote building.  It also functions well as a solar landscape light.  It is widely available through the web and in some retail stores.

The bottom line is that this light performed as advertised. 

The performance of the light:

• Brightness equal to a 30 watt conventional bulb
• 10+ hours of endurance with a full day of sun
• Batteries last 2-3 years before replacement
• LED's last 100,000 hours
• Solar panel lasts for years
• Functions as a shed light, landscape light and many other applications