How Geothermal Heating & Cooling Works
We all want to save money on our utility bills. One answer is under your feet, literally. Geothermal energy uses the ground's natural warmth to heat and cool your home. Nearly half the solar energy that reaches the earth from the sun is stored in the ground at a constant temperature of ~ 53°. A Geothermal heat pump system taps into that energy to heat your house in winter and cool your home in summer.
Geothermal heat pump systems can be sized to heat and cool any building, large or small, in any climate and consist of 3 main parts: a heat exchanger, which is a loop of tubing buried beneath the ground to transfer energy to and from the system, a heat pump usually located inside the home, and a heating and cooling distribution systems such as forced air or radiant floor system.
Geothermal heat pump systems can be sized to heat and cool any building, large or small, in any climate and consist of 3 main parts: a heat exchanger, which is a loop of tubing buried beneath the ground to transfer energy to and from the system, a heat pump usually located inside the home, and a heating and cooling distribution systems such as forced air or radiant floor system.
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A series of polyethylene pipes (ground loops) are buried beneath the earth’s surface, where temperatures on the east end are constant from 52° to 57°F throughout the year. Inside the tubing is the water antifreeze solution (refrigerant) utilized to transfer energy to and from the ground.
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The Cooling CycleDuring the summer months in cooling mode, unwanted heat indoors is transferred outside through the refrigerant in the pipes for cooling by the earth. The cold refrigerant is then circulated to the geothermal system indoors to provide efficient air conditioning.
Because the only energy consumed by a geothermal heat pump is electricity to run the circulating pump, compressor, and blower fan, geothermal heating is highly efficient. For every 1 unit of electrical energy consumed, the system produces at least four units of heat without combustion or its byproducts. This 400-percent energy efficiency is unmatched by other conventional sources. |
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The Heating CycleDuring the winter months in heating mode, the process is reversed. Inside the heat pump, the fluid is conveyed to a compressor that concentrates the molecules of heat energy in a vapor compression cycle, raising the temperature to approximately 120°. This hot vapor passes through the tubing comprising the coil, shedding heat as the steam condenses back into liquid. Air pulled through the coil is heated by this shed heat, then dispersed into the ducts to warm the home to provide comfortable space heating.
Hot water can also be provided for little or no additional monthly energy cost. |
