One of the greatest benefits to using geothermal energy to heat and cool your home is the savings on your energy bill. A Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) is one of the most efficient systems available. They have heating efficiencies up to 50-70% higher than other heating systems, and cooling efficiencies up to 20-40% higher than conventional air conditioning units. What does that mean for you? An energy savings of nearly half in the winter and 20% in the summer!
What is geothermal energy, and how does it work?
Geothermal energy is the energy produced by extracting the earth's internal heat. The earth is relatively constant in temperature, making it a natural source to draw energy from. Geothermal heat pumps are electrically powered systems that tap into this energy to provide heating, cooling, and even hot water for homes and businesses.
GHPs can have either a closed loop or an open loop system, and are most commonly installed either vertically or horizontally. In a closed loop system, water or an antifreeze solution circulates through plastic pipes buried deep in the ground. During the winter, the fluid collects heat from the earth and carries it through the system into your home or office. In the summer months, the opposite occurs; the system pulls heat from your home or office carrying it through the system and placing it in the ground. This process also creates free hot water in the summer and a large savings in hot water costs during the winter.
Open loop systems work much in the same way, and the benefits are the same. The only difference is these systems are installed when an adequate supply of water is available.
For more information, visit us at http://www.goeggsystems.com
(sources: www.novageothermal.com, www.wikipedia.com, www.dictionary.com)
