In the first of a three-part salute to Earth Day 2021, Lisa Crosley, President of Lifestyle Comfort Solutions, explains how geothermal heating/cooling works.
You have a power plant right under your feet. No matter what climate you live in, no matter how much temperatures vary from blazing-hot Summer, to bone-chilling Winter, dig down into the earth as little as 30 feet and the temperature remains a balmy 55 to 70 degrees year-round.
The Earth is one of the World’s best solar collectors. 47% of the Sun’s heat is absorbed into the Earth’ surface.
The geothermal heat pump puts the Earth’s free energy to work. In Winter, the Earth’s warmth is collected and moved into your home or office. In Summer, heat is pumped into the cooler Earth, rather than into the hot air, which is already saturated with unwelcome temperatures.
A geothermal system uses small pipes, called loops, to move heat energy into, and out of, your home depending on the season. There are a variety of loop systems which generally require about 400 to 600 feet per each ton of heating/cooling required. Loop systems can be installed both vertically and horizontally.
The loop system and indoor geothermal equipment will be more expensive for initial installation, but, according to the US DOE, the return on investment may be as little as 3 years, but generally not more than 10.
The choices are endless. Water source. Ground source. Trust Lifestyle Comfort Solutions professionals to help you choose the right geothermal system for your home or workplace.
