It’s Easy to Understand Geothermal

What do Old Faithful, volcanoes, and hot springs have in common?

They are each created by geothermal energy that naturally rises from the nuclear center of Earth and is released into the atmosphere. Now that heat can be captured by environmentally friendly systems and used not only to warm homes and businesses, but cool them as well.

The Earth’s geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply humanity’s energy requirements. Now, over 70 countries use geothermal energy plants for their energy needs.

To you the homeowner or developer, geothermal energy provides low cost, reliable and sustainable energy that does not create any carbon emissions, while providing 40% greater efficiency than traditional heating and cooling systems.

Here’s how it works for you.

In the winter a geothermal heat pump collects the Earth’s natural heat through a series of pipes called a loop. The loop is installed below the surface of the ground or submersed in a pond or lake. Fluid circulates through the loop and carries the heat to the house. There, an electrically driven compressor releases the heat inside the home at a higher temperature. Ductwork distributes the heat to different rooms quietly and without a draft, unlike traditional systems.

In summer, the process is reversed. The underground loop draws excess heat from the house and allows it to be absorbed by the Earth, much like a refrigerator keeps your food cool – by drawing heat from the interior, not by blowing in cold air.

The geothermal loop that is buried underground is typically made of a high-density polyethylene, a tough plastic that is extraordinarily durable but which allows heat to pass through efficiently. When installers connect sections of pipe, they heat fuse the joints, making the connections stronger than the pipe itself. The fluid in the loop is water or an environmentally safe antifreeze solution that circulates through the pipes in a closed system.

Another type of geothermal system uses a loop of copper piping placed underground. When refrigerant is pumped through the loop, heat is transferred directly through the copper to the earth.

The systems require little maintenance, has few mechanical component, are underground and sheltered from the weather, and last 25 to 50 years – they are virtually worry-free. The components inside the house are small and easily accessible for maintenance. Warm and cool air are distributed through ductwork, just as in a regular forced-air system.