National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Learning About Renewable Energy

Geothermal Heat Pumps for Farmers and Ranchers

The following resources will help you install a geothermal heat pump on your farm or ranch, either in your home, outbuilding, or both. If you are unfamiliar with this technology, see the introduction to geothermal heat pumps.

General Information

U.S. Department of Energy Consumer's Guide: Geothermal Heat Pumps
Basic information about geothermal heat pumps.

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
Provides a lot of information on geothermal heat pumps for homes and businesses, including case studies, brochures, heating system comparisons, and a list of manufacturers.

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
Has basic information about ground source heat pumps and a business directory of accredited installers and designers by state.

Harvesting Clean Energy
Features information on renewable energy technologies, like geothermal heat pumps, for rural landowners, including farms, ranches, and communities in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

An Information Survival Kit for the Prospective Geothermal Heat Pump Owner (PDF 450 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Describes several different types of geothermal heat pumps and their capabilities, describes how to find and evaluate contractors, and answers many common questions about geothermal heat pumps.

Financing

U.S. Department of Agriculture 2002 Farm Bill: Section 9006
A grant and loan program to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses invest in energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

U.S. Department of Energy Financial Opportunities
Offers financial assistance opportunities for the development and demonstration of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
Provides information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.