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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 01 October 2005 |
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are the most environmentally friendly way to control the temperature in your home or business buildings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, converting to geothermal energy for your heating, cooling and hot water needs can save you up to and above 50% on your annual energy costs.
A geothermal heat exchange system consists of three parts, each with its own job to do. Loops of piping underground carry either water or a mix of water and antifreeze from the geothermal heat pump through the earth and back to the pump. As the cool air passes through the warm earth, it evaporates. Geothermal heat pumps work on the same principle as an air conditioner. They contain coils that extract the heat from the evaporated coolant, condensing it back to a liquid and passing it back to the underground piping loops to be warmed again. This method of moving warm air from one place to another is far more efficient than heating or cooling the air in a room – which is how most standard heating and cooling systems work. Instead of blowing cold air into a room, geothermal heat pumps draw the warm air OUT of the room by using a series of coils to condense and evaporate a coolant – usually water, or water and antifreeze.
An air handling system disperses the heated/cooled air from the geothermal heat pump to the building to be heated. This may consist of heating/air ducts, vents, fans or radiant floor units. Geothermal heat pumps can be small enough to fit on a closet shelf. In general, they are situated inside the building which is heated by the geothermal heating system. Because geothermal heat pumps don’t burn any sort of fuel to heat the air, they don’t need a flue, chimney or vent to the outside. For the same reason, all that’s needed to power geothermal heat pumps is a little bit of electricity. There’s no need for gas, oil or another combustible fuel – and therefore no pollution sent out into the atmosphere.
Heating and cooling our homes with geothermal heat pumps can reduce the level of energy consumption by as much as 70%. The Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and other groups concerned with the environment together form the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium to disseminate information and promote the use of safe, environmentally friendly geothermal heat pumps and heat exchange systems across the country.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 October 2005 )
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Geothermal Heat Pumps 
