GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

What is Geothermal heating and cooling?

Like the air temperature, the earth’s surface temperature changes with the warming of the sun during the day, and the cooling at night. However 6 feet or more below the surface, the temperature of the earth remains fairly constant.

Geothermal is a process by which a water-based solution is circulated through a closed-loop system that is traditionally buried below the ground. The water-based solution is circulated through these closed loops of pipe. The earth absorbs the heat or cold from the water-based solution and returns to it to a “normal” temperature. The earth itself is used similar to how your car’s radiator cools that water/antifreeze mixture that circulates throughout the engine.

There is a geothermal unit inside your home or business that acts like a heat pump. This heat pump could service everything from the heating and cooling of your structure, radiant floor heating and even your domestic hot water.

The benefit of geothermal heating and cooling is that in offers the potential to save you 60% or more off your heating or cooling bills, compared with traditional systems. However, it is not an appropriate solution for every application. The geology of the earth and site layout plays a major factor in the design and feasibility of a geothermal system. It has a relatively high initial cost, but that cost can be greatly reduced by available tax credits and incentives. Geothermal is a very good environmentally conscious solution for the right application.