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Ground-Source/Geo-Thermal Heat Pumps
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What is a GeoExchange System?
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GeoExchange Systems [Geo-Thermal or Ground-Source Heat Pumps] provide space conditioning - heating, cooling, and humidity control. They may also provide water heating - either to supplement or replace conventional water heaters.
GeoExchange Systems work by moving heat, rather than by converting chemical energy to heat like in a furnace. Every GeoExchange System has three major subsystems or parts: a geothermal heat pump to move heat between the building and the fluid in the earth connection, an earth connection for transferring heat between its fluid and the earth, and a distribution subsystem for delivering heating or cooling to the building. Each system may also have a desuperheater to supplement the building's water heater, or a full-demand water heater to meet all of the building's hot water needs.
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In the heating mode, heat is extracted from the fluid in the earth connection by the geothermal heat pump and distributed to the home or building -- typically through a system of air ducts. Cooler air from the building is returned to the geothermal heat pump, where it cools the fluid flowing to the earth connection. The fluid is then re-warmed as it flows through the earth connection.
In the cooling mode, the process is reversed. The relatively cool fluid from the earth connection absorbs heat from the building and transfers it to the ground.
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A Few GeoExchange Facts:
The EPA found that GeoExchange heat pumps can reduce energy consumption and corresponding emissions by over 40% compared to air source heat pumps and by over 70% compared to electric resistance heating with standard air conditioning equipment. Combining GeoExchange with other energy-efficient measures, such as window or insulation upgrades, can increase these savings even further.
GeoExchange is the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning system available, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
GeoExchange heat pumps represent a savings to homeowners of 30 to 70% in the heating mode, and 20 to 50% in the cooling mode compared to conventional systems.
For more on GeoExchange, visit their website at:
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
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