A geothermal system makes use of the largest source of energy available – the ground beneath your feet!
The Ground
A geothermal system uses the energy of the sun, stored in the earth, to keep you in comfort all year round. Even in the winter, when a blanket of snow covers the ground, the earth’s temperature remains approximately 10°C (50°F) at only six feet below the surface. This means that you have a steady supply of heat to keep you in comfort, even in the depths of the coldest winter.
The Pipes
A series of pipes buried in the ground. An ethanol solution is circulated through the pipes to make them highly efficient conductors of heat. In the winter, the ethanol in the pipes absorbs the heat from the ground and, now warmed up, the fluid is pumped back through the geothermal unit in the house. In the summer, the heat transfer process takes place in reverse. The fluid in the pipes leaves the house in a warm state, but after circulating underground, is cooled as the pipes exchange heat with the cooler earth.
The Geothermal Unit
The underground loops connect to the main geothermal unit installed in your house, and is connected to your home’s forced air (or water radiator) system.