# Geothermal direct use and ground-source heat pumps: Impact on the biosphere

Big carbon savings with little local disturbance

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/biosphere/

What this tab covers Effects on human, animal, plant, fungal and microbial life and on whole ecosystems: in the short term (construction and early years), medium term (operating life) and long term (decommissioning and legacy).

Geothermal heat displaces fossil heating, with large carbon savings. Local effects are small and mostly limited to drilling and trenching disturbance; little has been measured beyond that.
 CO2 reduction of heat pumps (all types) against gas heating, German field test, 2024 64%^[7](https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/press-releases/2025/fraunhofer-ise-research-project-completed-heat-pumps-provide-climate-friendly-heating-in-existing-buildings.html) CO2 saved by Geretsried district heating (claimed) up to 44,000 t a year^[4](https://knowledge.energyinst.org/new-energy-world/article?id=140011) US heating and cooling emissions avoidable through 2050 (GeoVision scenario) up to 1,281 million t CO2e^[5](https://apps.openei.org/geovision/executive-summary)

#### Effects over time

| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Humans**^[1](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps)^[5](https://apps.openei.org/geovision/executive-summary) | Drilling noise and disruption in gardens and streets. | Less indoor and outdoor air pollution than fuel boilers; lower heating bills after 5-10 years. | Little evidence of effect. |
| **Animals**^[1](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps) | Little evidence of effect. | Little evidence of effect. | Little evidence of effect. |
| **Plants**^[1](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps)^[3](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101915) | Trenching disturbs gardens and topsoil. | Greenhouses use geothermal heat to grow crops year-round. | Little evidence of effect. |
| **Fungi and soil life**^[1](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps) | Trenching disturbs soil. | Little evidence of effect. | Little evidence of effect. |
| **Ecosystems**^[1](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps) | Little evidence of effect. | Little evidence of effect. | Little evidence of effect. |

#### How the effects are reduced

Grouting boreholes stops contamination between aquifers; balanced heating and cooling loads keep ground temperature stable; low-global-warming refrigerants and leak checks reduce climate impact; reinjection of spent water sustains direct-use reservoirs.

#### Sources

1. [Geothermal Heat Pumps (Energy Saver)](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps) US Department of Energy, 2024
2. [Direct utilization of geothermal energy 2020 worldwide review (Lund and Toth, Geothermics 90, 101915)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2020.101915) Elsevier, 2021
3. [Innovative geothermal project powers up in Bavaria](https://knowledge.energyinst.org/new-energy-world/article?id=140011) Energy Institute, New Energy World, 2025
4. [GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet, Executive Summary](https://apps.openei.org/geovision/executive-summary) US DOE (OpenEI), 2019
5. [Fraunhofer ISE research project completed: heat pumps provide climate-friendly heating in existing buildings](https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/press-media/press-releases/2025/fraunhofer-ise-research-project-completed-heat-pumps-provide-climate-friendly-heating-in-existing-buildings.html) Fraunhofer ISE, 2025

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/correlation/index.md)
- [Efficiency](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/efficiency/index.md)
- [Techniques](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/techniques/index.md)
- [Resources and labour](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/resources/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_geo_direct/links/index.md)