Geothermal drilling is not new. In fact, some drillers have been involved in geothermal heat pump (GHP) work for decades. Continuing uncertainty in a volatile energy market has created concern over the cost of both residential and commercial heating and cooling. Those unpredictable costs have made many take a serious look at the proven return on investment offered by GHPs.

For those who attended the 21st annual International Ground Source Heat Pump Association conference in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 1-2, news accounts of the energy credits tied to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 were the best news for the industry in years.