By Angela Vories, International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA)
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) deliver phenomenal efficiencies of 300% to 600%, during the coldest of winter nights, thanks to their installation deep below the frost line. Instead of adapting the unpredictable ups and downs of outdoor air, GSHPs can provide household heating and cooling by drawing steady warmth from the earth, which remains a cozy 50 to 55 degrees year-round. This technology is a paradigm shift, potentially saving the U.S. electric grid up to $1 trillion by avoiding expensive infrastructure upgrades. Once in place, GSHPs require little upkeep and offer years of dependable service, often outlasting the average homeowner’s stay. Along with cleaner air and complimentary hot water, you are not just cutting utility costs—you are stepping up as a steward of the planet.
Some states, where interest and demand keep growing, have crafted incentives and worked to provide loan options that allow homeowners to work directly with Co-ops toward financing a GSHP installation. As contractors gain more experience and the supply chain becomes more efficient, installation costs are expected to decrease and financing options are expected to increase, making GSHPs more financially accessible to a broader audience. Awareness truly is power when it comes to change. Connecting with your local green building organization like Missouri Gateway Green Building Council can lead you to an abundance of options best suited for you.
Perhaps you rent or call your condo home. Maybe the upfront cost does not fit your budget or timeline. As more people and cities demand energy efficiency, a new solution is gaining ground: Thermal Energy Networks, or TENs. These geothermal systems use a network of Ground Source Heat Pumps, all linked together, to deliver heating and cooling in a smarter, more connected way. In 2024, the natural gas utility Eversource Energy commissioned a first-of-its-kind U.S. utility-owned geothermal TEN pilot in Framingham, Massachusetts. The Framingham project consists of an ambient temperature loop that connects decentralized Ground Source Heat Pumps in 36 buildings—including 24 residential and five commercial buildings—to three borehole fields (Eversource, 2025). The Framingham pilot project serves as an example and path forward for the rapidly growing national interest by natural gas utilities and state regulatory agencies in developing TEN projects within their service territories and jurisdictions.
Source: 2025 U.S. Geothermal Market (National Laboratory of the Rockies)