Geothermal Heating and Cooling Explained

Geothermal power is a sustainable energy source produced by extracting the natural heat stored beneath the surface of the earth. An environmentally friendly, sustainable energy source, geothermal systems recover heat from the earth and re-purpose it to heat buildings and generate electricity. As the earth is continually introducing heat, geothermal power generation is considered a stable, sustainable source of energy.

While temperatures above the ground vary from day to day and from season to season, the temperature beneath the earth’s surface remains relatively consistent. At a depth of ten feet, the soil temperature remains largely unaffected by the temperature above the surface even during the cold winter months.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are comprised of a series of pipes, a geothermal unit, and a heat pump. The underground pipes are filled with an ethanol solution, which absorbs heat from the earth and transports it to the geothermal unit located inside your home. The geothermal unit interfaces with your forced air or water radiator system, enabling the transfer of heat to your home. In the summer months, the system works in reverse to help keep your home cool. A geothermal heating and cooling system  will reduce your household energy emissions by 50%, in addition to reducing your family’s overall environmental footprint.