Geothermal Turns Up the Heat
What’s the temperature outside? That depends on the basic principles of the sun rising every day and generating some degree of heat. When the sun sets, that heat source disappears. That concept is easy to understand because you can see the process.
What if there was a process that you couldn’t see? Almost half of our solar energy is absorbed in the earth’s surface. As a result, the earth maintains a natural, underground reservoir that can be used to heat and cool your home. But unlike the sun, this heat resource exists regardless of the time of day or year. You also own this natural resource, so why not use it?
In North America, the average temperature 30-feet underground is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, all year long. Geothermal technology takes advantage of this resource to provide a comfortable indoor environment. An underground piping system circulates water from the building ground source heat pump to the earth. The geothermal system uses the underground natural resource to heat and cool homes, offices, schools, hospitals and more.
During the colder months, heat is absorbed from the ground and distributed inside as warm air. A geothermal system replaces the need for burning fossil fuels to produce heat. The benefit to the environment – generating a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to a conventional boiler or furnace. Also, the threat of a dangerous carbon monoxide and gas leak is totally eliminated because a geothermal system doesn’t use flames to heat the building.
Here’s how geothermal heat pumps work during the colder months:
- Geothermal heat pump sends circulating water deep into the earth.
- The circulating water absorbs the underground warmth.
- The Heat Pump converts the circulating water heat into warm, comfortable air for your home or building.
- Your air is warmed to your desired temperature.
During the summer or warmer months, the geothermal heat pump process is reversed. The heat pump removes hot air from your home and uses the heat to warm the earth. This heat is then reused in the colder months. Essentially, when you change your system to the heating mode, you reuse the heat that was removed during the summer to heat your home in the winter. How efficient!
Geothermal heat pumps present a more efficient alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems. They use the natural, underground heat resource to regulate indoor temperatures, regardless of the time of year.
How do you control your temperature?
