Study: Hybrid ground-source heat pumps cut energy use

A report by the Energy Center of Wisconsin, with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Solar Energy Laboratory and partially funded by the Department of Energy, finds that new hybrid ground-source heat pump systems dramatically decrease up-front costs in commercial buildings while delivering financial and environmental benefits nearly equivalent to standard ground-source heat pumps. With its lower price, hybrid GSHP technology could be deployed widely, saving energy and money in new and existing commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, according to the report, “Hybrid Ground-Source Heat Pump Installations: Experiences, Improvements and Tools.”