What is Geothermal Heating and Cooling?
Geothermal literally means “earth heat.” A geothermal HVAC heating and cooling system uses the constant temperature of the earth to both heat and cool your home. Geothermal systems reduce energy consumption by moving heat from or to the earth rather than creating it.
How Is That Possible?
Unlike the air all around us, the ground temperature beneath the earth’s surface remains stable throughout the year. Depending on the geography of the area, the ground temperature is usually somewhere between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Geothermal Works
A geothermal system uses this constant temperature to heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. Here’s how it works:
A geothermal coil is installed in the ground and connected to the geothermal heat pump. In the winter, the heat pump pulls heat out of the ground and transports it to warm the air that is then circulated throughout your home. In the summer, the geothermal system works in reverse, pulling the heat out of your home’s air and transporting it into the ground.
How Geothermal Heating and Cooling Saves You Money
By utilizing the relatively constant temperature of the earth as its exchange medium, geothermal systems are able to achieve extremely high energy-efficiency ratings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a geothermal heat pump consumes up to 44% less energy than air-source heat pumps and up to 72% less than electric heating and air conditioning systems.
Some of the Benefits Include:
- Uses 25%-50% less electricity
- Less moving parts (fewer maintenance tasks/repairs)
- Lifespan of 20+ years
- Maintains healthy indoor humidity levels
- Can be connected to your plumbing to provide free hot water
A geothermal system from Acree Plumbing, Air & Electric can help you greatly reduce your energy consumption and save you money on your monthly energy bills.
