If you're in the market for a new furnace this season, you've likely heard of geothermal heating systems like a heat pump. This type of system combines heating and cooling functions in one unit and works by transferring air that is naturally heated (and cooled) by the earth surrounding your home from the outside to the inside. There are a myriad of benefits to such systems, not the least of which is reducing the amount of energy necessary to keep your living spaces warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Heat pumps work best in climates that don't get extremely cold. Most units include a combustion furnace that will kick in when the air surrounding your house is too cold.

Advantages to investing in a heat pump

1. Is less expensive than a furnace and an air conditioning system. While a heat pump system is generally more expensive than even a high-efficiency, natural gas furnace, a heat pump is much less costly than both a furnace and a air conditioning system.

2. Uses less energy than a traditional gas furnace. Because a heat pump is transferring naturally-conditioned air rather than creating heated or cooled air, it uses much less energy than other types of heating and cooling systems. According to the U.S. EPA, a geothermal heat pump uses up to 72 percent less energy than other types of house heating systems.

3. Is quieter than other types of heating systems. A heat pump is virtually silent as opposed to forced air furnaces that have a blower than turns on and off periodically to circulate air throughout the house.

4. Has less danger of harmful emissions. When the heat pump is running, there is no danger of emission gases that can potentially back up into your home with a combustion furnace.

5. Has a much longer lifespan. The average forced air furnace today will last 15 to 20 years. A heat pump will last up to 50 years. For many people, that means a heat pump is the last heating system they'll ever have to buy.

While a heat pump may not be the right choice for every household, this type of system is less expensive than purchasing both a high-efficiency furnace and air conditioning system, reduces the amount of energy needed to condition the air in your home and is much quieter than a traditional forced air furnace.