Geothermal Heating and cooling one of the most efficient residential heating and cooling systems available today, with heating efficiencies 50 – 70% higher than other heating systems and cooling efficiencies 20 – 40% higher than available air conditioners. That directly translates into savings for you on your utility bills.
One system provides both space heating and cooling with a combination heating/cooling unit and a hot water heating system. You can change from one mode to another with a simple flick on your indoor thermostat. Using a desuperheater, some geothermal heat pumps can save you up to 50% on your water-heating bill by preheating tank water.
Geothermal heat pumps heat water for your home using what is called a desuperheater, the Geothermal heat pump turns waste heat to the task of heating hot water. During the summer, when the system is in cooling mode, your hot water is produced free as a byproduct of the thermal process. In winter, with the heating mode, the desuperheater heats a portion of your hot water. Desuperheaters are standard on some units, optional on others. Stand-alone systems that will heat water all year around can be purchased.
The Geothermal heat pump does not take much space. Most of a Geothermal heat pump installation is underground. Inside the house, the heat pump units are about the same size as a traditional heating and cooling unit. Geothermal heat pumps are durable and highly reliable. The Geothermal heat pump contains fewer mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 50-year warranty. Geothermal units are very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside & outside of the home. Geothermal heat pumps have no noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities, on or near the patio. Geothermal heat pumps are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children or pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units. Geothermal heat pumps have no open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.
Geothermal system moves warm air 90-105(F) throughout your home or business via standard ductwork. An even comfort level is created because the warm air is moved in slightly higher volumes and saturates the building with warmth more evenly. This helps even out hot or colds spots and eliminates the cold air blasts common with fossil fuel furnaces.
The underground system is buried pipe, or ground loop, is the most recent technical advancement in heat pump technology. Recently, new heat pump designs and improved buried pipe materials have been combined to make GSHP systems the most efficient heating and cooling systems available.
Nearly all Geothermal heat pumps are backed by the system manufacturers warranty for major components that is equivalent to the warranties for conventional heating and cooling systems. Manufacturers of plastic pipe used for ground loops warrant their products for 50 years.
Commercial, industrial, or residential geothermal heat pumps can be installed using a multitude of systems hooked up to an array of buried vertical or horizontal loops. This simplifies zone control and internal load balancing.
For a great article that explains some of the misunderstandings associated with Geothermal Heating and Cooling please read the following:
http://energyblog.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/17/10-myths-about-geothermal-heating-and-cooling/
