Topic Founder & Author: Dennis C. McCreery. First of all, outer burial containers and burial vaults are not required by state or federal law. They are required by most cemetery rules and regulations. Cemeteries want a casket placed in an outer burial container or burial vault to prevent the ground from sinking in above the casket.
A heat pump will replace both the furnace and air conditioner/central air unit. It may be costly to install, with the national average falling between $3,956 and $6,702, but it will save you considerable money in energy costs.
Air source heat pumps cost $1,500 to $7,000, while ground source may cost $7,000 to $25,000. These furnaces can be used as air conditioning units in summer, but many can't operate in extremely cold climates, limiting their efficacy.