Geothermal heating systems provide warmth to a home by extracting heat from a heat source. The theory behind it is that heat in essence can be extracted from any source regardless of its temperature. This means that even cooler environments can make potential heat sources, however sources that are warmer in temperature have greater efficiency.
The concept behind geothermal heating systems is that it works much like a refrigerator which uses a heat pump to force heat transfer. Geothermal heating systems have the ability to trap heat from a cold environment and transfer it to a warmer one and are able to manipulate the natural direction of flow.
Geothermal heating systems use the ground as a heat source to capitalize on the marginal temperatures immediately below the earth’s surface. Shallow earth at depths of 30 feet make it an ideal heat source for geothermal heating systems because the temperatures at these levels vary only slightly, even with seasonal fluctuation, making it a reliable and efficient form of energy generation.
Not only do geothermal heating systems heat in winter but they can also cool in summer as the process can be reversed, rather than pumping heat into a home, heat is extracted to the ground.
Geothermal heating systems are becoming a popular form of alternative energy with an excess of one million units sold worldwide and an estimated annual growth rate of 10%.
Although geothermal heating systems may cost more than conventional systems the returns are financially rewarding with the reduction of electricity bills, the cost of materials and installation can be recouped within 3 to 7 years. Consider geothermal heating systems a long term investment that will not only pay for itself but will also make less of a dent when it comes to the impact of your carbon footprint as geothermal heating systems that operate under closed loop conditions are virtually emission free.
In addition to saving more in the long run, geothermal heating systems are long lasting and durable with their estimated lifespan being around 25 years making geothermal heating systems a solid choice.
There are several different types of geothermal heating systems and they range from direct exchange systems to closed loop, vertical and horizontal closed loop systems.
Direct exchange geothermal heating systems operate by way of a closed loop system of refrigerant in direct contact with the ground. This particular system is called direct exchange because it does not require the use of an intermediate fluid to facilitate the transfer of heat. This means that only heat is transferred across the pipe for immediate use making them one of the most efficient types of geothermal heating systems out there on the market. Installation of the direct exchange geothermal heating systems is also more economical in comparison to a closed loop water system.
Closed loop water geothermal heating systems unlike their direct exchange counterparts need the assistance of a heat exchanger linking both refrigerant and water loops and their respective pumps. Closed loop water systems have lower efficiency than systems not requiring the use of water as they need larger pipes meaning increased expended energy to power them along with escalated installation costs.
Geothermal heating systems are a great way to take advantage of geothermal technology providing an efficient, clean low cost method of energy generation.