In LEED Reference guide, it states "Geothermal energy, such as electricity generated from subterranean steam or heat generated from subterranean steam or hot water, is eligible. However, geothermal energy used in conjunction with vapor compression cycles, as in
a ground-source heat pump, is not."
Why are Ground Source Heat Pump systems not considered as renewable energy?
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5907 thumbs up
September 10, 2021 - 12:32 pm
Because ground source heat pumps use equipment that uses energy to produce heating/cooling. It is not really a source of energy. The ground is a heat sync and source in the same way that the air is for an air source heat pump and they are not eligible either.