A Review of the Benefits of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems in Retail Buildings.

Geothermal systems are becoming increasingly popular during the surge of green building. However, their popularity is limited by a lack of knowledge and perceived risk associated with a new system. These systems do not pollute the environment because they operate from earth's natural energy and do not alter chemical compounds. Geothermal systems are cheaper in the long run because only equipment that uses combustion requires expensive fuel to operate. These savings counteract the higher price of the equipment installation. Energy conservation also benefits society because there is less damage to the environment. Buildings that are sustainable can be recognized with LEED certification but properties that violate environmental standards can be penalized. Geothermal systems are a good option to improve sustainability because it can improve the quality of the work environment and profitability of business. Moderately sized retail building projects that use them are at an advantage compared to those that do not. This paper provides an in depth study of geothermal system for retails stores in Northeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]