Since the first caveman built a fire inside to warm his living space, humans have been harnessing the power of Mother Nature to heat and cool a home. Now, geothermal energy, a modern technology that uses the earth’s thermal properties in conjunction with electricity, is poised to become more widespread as an eco-friendly way to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
Geothermal heat pump systems have been growing in use since first being deployed successfully in the 1970s, and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down: A 2013 global analysis by Navigant Research predicts the geothermal market will grow by more than 150% by 2020.