Geothermal Energy in Colorado Advancing the use of geothermal energy in the Centennial State

A geothermal heat pump, ground source heat pump (GSHP), or ground heat pump is a central heating and/or cooling system that pumps heat to or from the ground. It uses the earth as a heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in the summer). This design takes advantage of the moderate temperatures in the ground to boost efficiency and reduce the operational costs of heating and cooling systems, and may be combined with solar heating to form a geosolar system with even greater efficiency.

Ground Source Heat Pump - Xcel Rebate Program

Ground Source Heat Pump rebates make purchasing a high-efficiency ground source heat pump more affordable with a cash rebate of $300 per ton (5 ton limit).

Ground source heat pumps that earn the Energy Star® use about 30 percent less energy than a standard ground source heat pump.

What equipment is eligible?

* Only closed-loop ground source heat pumps, with a minimum 3.3 COP and 14.1 EER rating, that are currently listed on the ENERGY STAR website can earn a rebate. Additionally, the unit must include an air cooling application. Rebates for ground source heat pumps are capped at $1500 (i.e. a 7-ton unit will receive the 5-ton limit of $1500). Please verify that the ground source (geothermal) heat pump you install is ENERGY STAR qualified by visiting energystar.gov or calling 1-866-STAR-YES.

Who is eligible to participate?

The installation property must be located in Colorado and receive residential electricity service from Xcel Energy to qualify for the rebate. Rebates are given only to customers whose Ground Source Heat Pump was installed by a contractor who is a registered participant in Xcel Energy’s cooling program. Registered contractors must be NATE or IGSHPA certified. Only registered contractors will have rebate applications.

Eligible equipment must be installed between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011, and applications must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2012.

How do I get a rebate?

Go to Xcel website and follow the instructions.

Sources: wikipedia, Xcel.