Geothermal Heating

Geothermal Heating

Geothermal heating is the next big green idea these days. But what is geothermal heating and why should you be interested in this environmentally-friendly system? Basically, geothermal heating systems utilize heat generated by the earth, which can be harnessed to heat or cool your home.

One of the many geothermal advantages is the low environmental impact from emissions. This low emission count from geothermal heating and cooling systems is possible because no fuel is burned in the process. Additionally, operating a geothermal system costs an average of less than $1000 per year. On the other hand, the initial geothermal cost of installation and setup of a geothermal loop system deters some consumers even though the system produces low emissions.

What is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy systems harness the natural thermal properties of the Earth to act as a heat generator or a heat sink. The ground acts as a natural insulator, storing heat from the sun's radiation. Even in the most extreme climates a few feet underground the temperature is constant, ranging from 45° to 75° depending on geographical location.

How Does a Geothermal Heat Pump System Work?

Geotheramal heat pump systems consist of a pump, underground pipes, and a liquid pump pack. The pump pack sends a refrigerant through pipes that are run into the ground, where the stable temperatures will heat or cool the liquid. The pipes run out of the ground back into a geothermal heat pump that converts the heat from the liquid in the pipes into energy for heating your home.

The geothermal cooling process is similar in hotter summer months, where the pipes carry heat from the house into the ground to be cooled. Many geothermal heat pumps also come with a "desuperheater," a condenser that provides an attachment to hot water heaters, allowing the household's hot water to come from geothermal energy as well. Desuperheaters also provide extra efficiency, as they use extra heat that would otherwise be wasted.
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Geothermal Heating and Heat Pumps

It is important to note that there is a difference between geothermal heat pumps and geothermal heating. A Geothermal heat pump uses the temperature in the ground to warm a house while geothermal heating systems use geothermal activity in select geographic locations to heat a house without the use of a heat pump.

Disclaimer: This article offers general guidelines and is not intended as professional advice.