So many people are tired of paying a monthly bill to a utility company that is burning nonrenewable coal or natural gas to create electrical power.  While there are some options for creating power that requires very little environmental impact, the carbon dioxide emissions created in a coal burning power plant are very high and contribute to the problems of acid rain.  Forced air furnaces and air conditioners also contribute to the problems of increasing levels of pollution in urban and suburban areas. Other options for heating and cooling systems exist than just the standard forced air furnace and air conditioner combination found in most homes.  Geothermal heating in Toronto and cooling units are becoming more widely recognized as a viable way to cut greenhouse emissions and reduce waste and cost for interior cooling and heating. 

When the geothermal heating and cooling systems are combined with a solar electric system, these units can provide a zero emission and pollution alternative to the waste created by burning natural gas or propane in a furnace and the electricity used to cool a home.  Contrary to popular beliefs, the use of electricity is not as environmentally friendly as some might think.  To create electricity, many power generating plants burn natural gas or coal, creating greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and monoxide as well as particulates infusing some serious air pollution.

 nother alternative method to cool and heat homes that is energy efficient and reduces or completely eliminates heating and cooling bills is the use of a closed loop system utilizing geothermal heating.  This is not the use of geysers to generate steam heat, but the use of the natural temperature of the earth at about six feet below the surface of the earth to cool and heat homes.  Polyethylene pipes are buried under the ground either vertically or horizontally in three to six foot trenches.  Then water or an anti-freeze mix is pumped through the pipes. During the winter, the pipes collect heat from the earth and carry it through the system of pipes back through the home.  In the summertime, the pipes transmit heat into the earth and carry coolness into the building.  By implementing a geothermal system in Toronto instead of a traditional HVAC system, homeowners can save thirty to fifty percent on their heating bills.  Initial setup costs can be higher, but are sometimes offset by government financial incentives like tax credits, tax deductions, and utility rebates.