Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a natural energy source derived from the heat found in the earth's core. An example of this is the magma, or liquid rock that comes from the earth's center through geological openings and flows from volcanos. Hot springs and geysers are examples of warmth created with this kind of energy.

Geothermal heating and cooling does not use geothermal energy, but rather ground source energy. (For that reason, you may hear geothermal heat pumps called ground source heat pumps.) Geothermal heat pump technology relies on the sun to heat the ground at the earth's surface, rather than the earth's core to heat it from below. Geothermal energy use is not widespread due to the complications of geology. Because geothermal heat pumps use the sun's energy, which is much more accessible, their application is viable virtually everywhere.

In the purest sense, geothermal systems use solar energy. The earth absorbs an amazing 48% of the sun's energy, leaving a fairly constant underground temperature between 45° and 70° F.

A water solution flows through pipes buried in the ground (ground loop system) absorbing heat from the earth in the winter and moving it to the geothermal system inside the house. Once there, the heat is condensed and transferred to the air that is circulated throughout the home, providing warmth when needed.

In the summer, the process is reversed, absorbing heat from the air inside the home, similar to how a refrigerator extracts heat from food to make it cool, and transfers that heat into the ground through the same loop system.

The Science Behind the Magic

The heat exchanger, also known as the loop system, captures the stored solar energy in the ground and delivers it back to the geothermal system in the house. There are 4 different types of loops.

Your loop system is the heart of geothermal technology. Regardless of the option you select, it will deliver over 500% efficient comfort and savings for many years into the future. Your local geothermal dealer will help you select the proper loop system based on a site survey and by conducting a detailed energy analysis of your home. Installing a geothermal loop system is like getting a 70% discount on energy for the life of your home.

Vertical Loop

This loop is used mainly when land area is limited. A drilling rig is used to bore holes at a depth of 150 to 200 feet. A U-shaped coil of high density pipe is inserted into the bore hole. The holes are then backfilled with a sealing solution.

Heating & Cooling Cycles

During the heating cycle, the fluid circulates through the loop extracting heat from the ground. The heat energy is transferred to the geothermal unit. The unit compresses the extracted heat to a high temperature and delivers it to your home through a normal duct system or radiant heat system.

For cooling, the process is simply reversed. Because the earth is much cooler than the air temperatures on a hot day, the geothermal system removes heat from the home and deposits it into the ground. The fluid is cooled by the ground temperatures and returned to the unit for cooling your home.