How a geothermal heating and cooling system works

Geothermal - How Does It Work?

Ground/water source heat pumps are the most efficient heating and cooling technology available today.

A ground source heat pump gets its heat from a circuit of pipes buried in the ground. A refrigerant solution circulates through the pipes picking up the natural heat of the earth which is extracted by the heat pump.

A water source heat pump can be used if you have a well, pond, stream or lake. In this case the water is drawn up directly to the pump's heat exchanger where its heat is extracted and the water is returned to the source.

In both cases, the process is reversed in summer when heat and humidity are drawn from the house to provide central air conditioning.

Aside from cutting your heating bills by up to 65% and giving you efficient air conditioning, ground/water source heat pumps can lower your water heating costs on average by 50%, and provide you with free heat for the hot water tank when you're air conditioning.

Ground/water source heat pumps can meet almost all home heating requirements. That's because earth and groundwater temperatures are higher than air temperatures in winter. About 50 - 75% of the energy used to heat the home is extracted from the ground or water. Efficient electric resistance heaters are installed to provide the supplementary heating needed for only the very coldest days. Some systems are designed to provide adequate heating capacity without the need for back-up heating.

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Benefits	Maintenance
Compared to electric resistance heating, a ground source heat pump may save you up to 65% on your electrical heating bill, and up to 25% on air conditioning Some models also provide water heating	Check air filters monthly and clean or replace if necessary Have a professional heat pump contractor inspect your unit annually

Geothermal Basics

Geothermal Loop Systems save you money!
At the heart of a Geothermal system is the earth loop.This earth loop is the vehicle that transfers heat to or from the ground,distinguishing Geothermal from conventional equipment.

Earth loops come in two basic types closed and open. Closed loops, made of durable plastic pipe,are buried in the earth or submerged in a lake or pond,and transfer heat by circulating a solution through the system.

Open loops use ground water pumped from a well as a heat source.The decision on which loop configuration to use depends on the land terrain,the cost of trenching or drilling,the availability of quality ground water and the availability of land. This technique allows the loop to be placed underneath homes, basements,wooded lots or even swimming pools without disrupting grass or landscaping. Because water transfers heat better than soil, closed loops can be coiled and placed on the bottom of a pond or lake where it transfers heat to or from the water. A 1/2 acre,8-foot-deep pond is usually sufficient.

Pond or lake loops often require less excavation than vertical and horizontal loops;therefore,they are often less expensive to install. Horizontal Loops are used where adequate land is available. One or more trenches are dug using a backhoe or chain trencher. Pipes are inserted and the trenches are back filled.

Vertical Loops are installed where space is limited. Holes are bored using a drilling rig, the pipe is inserted, and the holes are filled. The pipes are connected horizontally a few feet below the surface.

Horizontal Loops
Often used when adequate land surface is available. Depending on geothermal system needs and space available, pipes are placed in trenches that range in length from 100 to 400 feet.

Pond Loops can be installed if an adequately sized body of water is located close to the home. A series of coils are sunk to the bottom, connected by a header with supply and return pipes leading to the home.

Open Loops are used where there is an abundant supply of quality well water. The well must have enough capacity to provide adequate flow for both domestic use and the WaterFurnace unit.

Geothermal Energy: The World's Greenest Heating and Cooling System

Looking for an efficient, cost effective, and environmentally-friendly heating/cooling system? A geothermal heat pump is the greenest way to go. Learn the facts about geothermal energy.

An EPA study of energy efficiency concluded geothermal energy is the most environmentally friendly heating/cooling system.
The United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory concluded that geothermal energy is more efficient and cost-effective compared with conventional residential systems.
Geothermal energy can be found underground virtually anywhere.
Geothermal cost savings can be increased by geothermal energy incentives, available from federal, provincial, local, and utility sources.

Energy and cost savings of geothermal heat pumps will vary by region and type of conventional system they're compared with. But the energy cost of geothermal versus conventional HVAC systems will always be lower — and the geothermal system will always be greener.