Compare that to even the best ordinary system that delivers less than one unit of energy for every unit it consumes. That translates into an efficiency rating exceeding 530%, compared to the most efficient gas furnace which rates only 98%. Since two-thirds of the average building's energy bills come from heating, cooling, and hot water, installing a geothermal system reduces the energy usage so much that Summit Pointe can operate on what the solar or wind component is producing.

Geothermal systems are recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as the most environmentally friendly, cost-effective and energy-efficient heating and cooling technology available. These systems also minimize the threats of acid rain, air pollution, the greenhouse effect, and global warming—problems directly linked to the burning of fossil fuels. In fact, installing a single geothermal unit is the environmental equivalent of planting 750 trees.