What is a "Geothermal Heating & Cooling" system?
It's a ground source heat pump that takes advantage of the Earth’s ability to store vast amounts of heat in the soil ("geo" means earth and "thermal" refers to heat). This heat energy is maintained at a constant temperature (50°F to 70°F depending on latitude) in the soil and near-surface rocks. In Massachusetts, the soil maintains a 52°F temperature beginning approximately five feet down, well past the winter frost line.
Geothermal heating systems, "capture" this steady supply of heat energy and "move" it from the Earth and through a home or building. Basically, once installed, a home or building owner will use much less energy, save money each month, and eliminate the pollution produced by fossil fuel systems.
The application of Geoexchange Heating & Cooling, has been named "the most energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive of all space conditioning systems", by the Environmental Protection Agency. The system's basic concept takes advantage of the constant energy stored in the earth to heat and cool a building. The system is also equipped with an "optional" desuperheater that will pre-heat your potable water and significantly reduce your "Water Heating" bill, without polluting our environment.
Ground source heat pumps work in a similar manner as air source heat pumps, minus the high cost. A typical household can give most systems a payback period of five to seven years. GSHP's are more than three times as efficient as the most efficient fossil fuel furnace. By moving energy that already exists in the earth in form of heat, instead of burning a combustible fuel, GSHP's deliver three units of energy for every one unit used to power the heat-pump system.
It's a ground source heat pump that takes advantage of the Earth’s ability to store vast amounts of heat in the soil ("geo" means earth and "thermal" refers to heat). This heat energy is maintained at a constant temperature (50°F to 70°F depending on latitude) in the soil and near-surface rocks. In Massachusetts, the soil maintains a 52°F temperature beginning approximately five feet down, well past the winter frost line.
Geothermal heating systems, "capture" this steady supply of heat energy and "move" it from the Earth and through a home or building. Basically, once installed, a home or building owner will use much less energy, save money each month, and eliminate the pollution produced by fossil fuel systems.
The application of Geoexchange Heating & Cooling, has been named "the most energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive of all space conditioning systems", by the Environmental Protection Agency. The system's basic concept takes advantage of the constant energy stored in the earth to heat and cool a building. The system is also equipped with an "optional" desuperheater that will pre-heat your potable water and significantly reduce your "Water Heating" bill, without polluting our environment.
Ground source heat pumps work in a similar manner as air source heat pumps, minus the high cost. A typical household can give most systems a payback period of five to seven years. GSHP's are more than three times as efficient as the most efficient fossil fuel furnace. By moving energy that already exists in the earth in form of heat, instead of burning a combustible fuel, GSHP's deliver three units of energy for every one unit used to power the heat-pump system.
One Unit of Electricity
One Unit of Electricity
Three Units of
Free Ground Energy
Free Ground Energy
Four
Units
of
Heat
to
Your
Home
Units
of
Heat
to
Your
Home
Understanding the GSHP System
GSHP systems, like common heat pumps and air conditioners, make use of a refrigerant to help transfer (or pump) heat into and out of your home. The refrigerant helps the Geothermal system take advantage of two primary principles of heat transfer:
1.Heat energy always flows from areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperature.
2.The greater the difference in temperature between two adjacent areas, the higher the rate of heat transfer between them.
Refrigerators, air conditioners, and heat pumps all operate by pumping refrigerant through a closed loop in a way that creates two distinct temperature zones--a cold zone and a hot zone.
The simplest example of such a system is the universally familiar home refrigerator. In a refrigerator, a fan blows the air inside the box over tubes containing refrigerant that is very cold (typically below 0° F). Heat flows from the interior air to the cooler refrigerant. The refrigerant is then pumped to the high-temperature section, which is exposed to room air outside the refrigerator box. Because the refrigerant is hot in this zone, it gives up heat to the relatively cooler air in the room, before flowing back to the cold zone to begin the loop again.
Free Hot Water
As a side benefit, most Geothermal systems can be designed to produce free hot water during the summer, by using waste heat extracted from the interior air during the air conditioning season. Even in the winter, waste heat from the Geothermal heat pump can be converted to hot water to reduce the energy costs of the hot water heater.
GSHP systems, like common heat pumps and air conditioners, make use of a refrigerant to help transfer (or pump) heat into and out of your home. The refrigerant helps the Geothermal system take advantage of two primary principles of heat transfer:
1.Heat energy always flows from areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperature.
2.The greater the difference in temperature between two adjacent areas, the higher the rate of heat transfer between them.
Refrigerators, air conditioners, and heat pumps all operate by pumping refrigerant through a closed loop in a way that creates two distinct temperature zones--a cold zone and a hot zone.
The simplest example of such a system is the universally familiar home refrigerator. In a refrigerator, a fan blows the air inside the box over tubes containing refrigerant that is very cold (typically below 0° F). Heat flows from the interior air to the cooler refrigerant. The refrigerant is then pumped to the high-temperature section, which is exposed to room air outside the refrigerator box. Because the refrigerant is hot in this zone, it gives up heat to the relatively cooler air in the room, before flowing back to the cold zone to begin the loop again.
Free Hot Water
As a side benefit, most Geothermal systems can be designed to produce free hot water during the summer, by using waste heat extracted from the interior air during the air conditioning season. Even in the winter, waste heat from the Geothermal heat pump can be converted to hot water to reduce the energy costs of the hot water heater.
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Heating Mode
Cooling Mode
A GSHP system can be installed in a residential structure of any size, anywhere, whether it is single-family or multi-family. GSHPs can be installed on almost any size lot: under lawns, landscaped areas, driveways, or the house itself. An existing house can be retrofitted with a GSHP using the ductwork that is already there. Your dealer/installer will be able to determine ductwork requirements and if any minor modifications are needed. Home builders and homeowners can both take advantage of the special financing that is offered in many locations on a GSHP either through the utility or manufacturer.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have both endorsed ground source heat pump systems as among the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly heating, cooling, and water heating systems available. In a 1993 report, the EPA concluded that geothermal technologies represent a major opportunity for reducing national energy use and pollution, while delivering comfort, reliability and savings to homeowners.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have both endorsed ground source heat pump systems as among the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly heating, cooling, and water heating systems available. In a 1993 report, the EPA concluded that geothermal technologies represent a major opportunity for reducing national energy use and pollution, while delivering comfort, reliability and savings to homeowners.
Less Foreign Oil:
We can reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources because Geothermal Systems use far less of our natural resources. We must be serious about the economics and future of foreign oil. Geothermal is much more than a bumper sticker solution to our energy crisis. It provides a serious answer to an increasingly profound problem.
We can reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources because Geothermal Systems use far less of our natural resources. We must be serious about the economics and future of foreign oil. Geothermal is much more than a bumper sticker solution to our energy crisis. It provides a serious answer to an increasingly profound problem.
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