Why are geothermal heating systems so popular? Every year about 50,000 new geothermal heating systems are added in the United States. They’re very reasonable for most areas and can use the Earth for heating when temperatures drop.

Ground source heating uses ground water or antifreeze solution for its source of heat in the winter. Summer the opposite accuse, heat is removed from the building and transferred to the earth.

 GHP heating and cooling will give great comfort and be cost effective with environmentally friendly technologies, which uses our planet’s ability to store energy as heat. Moving the heat from Earth or from water into buildings, or from buildings right back into Earth. With little electricity employed for operating fans, pumps, controls, and compressor.

 Another kind of heat pump called an air source heat pump uses no ground source for heating and cooling. It works like your refrigerator extracting warmer air from the inside and transferring it to the outside via a compressor and refrigerant loop, for more moderate climates.

 What can home or business owners expect from Geothermal?

•  Savings: a very efficient way for heating and cooling your home. They use 25-50% less energy than conventional heating and cooling systems.
•  Comfort: Completely automatic in operation providing heating, cooling and hot water.
•  Safety: No combustion meaning no volatile gases escaping into the building
•  Durability: Geothermal heat pumps have an excellent track record for long life.
•  Reliability: A Geothermal systems are housed indoors and underground, protected from the elements. With few moving parts the system is maintenance free outside of changing the filters.
•  Green Energy: Heating and cooling with a renewable energy resource is another step towards minimizing the negative environmental impact.

Geothermal Heat Pumps are appropriate for both new construction and changing out traditional heating units. You can choose air sourced heat pump or ground source geothermal and use the hot water for radiant heating.

If you choose the ground source heat pump you have three options for the heat transfer system. The horizontal closed loops can be buried in the ground or submerged in a pond or lake.  Vertical closed loops are for small lots with no room for a horizontal loop, or open loop system, if you have access to ample well water, known in the industry as pump and dump. Water is circulated through the unit and drained way back into the ground.

Most geothermal systems require vertical drilling, unless the location and the design permit for horizontal installation. Trained professionals should install ground source systems. The soil properties and the thermal performance of rocks vary widely, the size of the geothermal system and the ground conditions will dictate how much drilling or trenching will be required.

What are your thoughts on geothemal heating and cooling?