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Geothermal Loop Systems for Heating & Cooling You can get safe and reliable energy efficient heating and cooling right from your own backyard. Geothermal energy represents the leading edge of heating and cooling technology. It transfers heat energy to and from the earth to heat and cool your house or building. Use these links to learn more: |
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Geothermal loops can help you save 30-60% on your monthly energy bills.
For every unit of electricity the system uses, it provides four units of
heating energy which gives a geothermal system an average of a 400%
efficiency rating. You can get your heating, central air conditioning
and hot water all from the same compact unit. |
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The depth of the loop varies depending
on the heating and cooling load dominance, Btu (British thermal units) load,
geographical location and climate. Vertical loops require little space in
the yard. The unit's fan,
compressor and pump are housed indoors. They are usually installed in
the garage, crawlspace, basement or electric room - there will be no outdoor
units! This indoor model will also be protected from harsh, outdoor
weather conditions and can have a life span of 20 years or more. The
only maintenance required is periodic checks and filter changes. |
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The closed-loop system is used to describe a geothermal loop that uses a continuous loop of high density polyethylene or polybutylene pipe. When properly installed, these pipes will last for many generations. These pipes are inert to chemicals naturally found in the soil and have good heat conducting properties. Geothermal systems work using the constant temperature of the earth. During the winter, the fluid circulating through the loop absorbs stored heat and carries it indoors. The indoor unit compresses the heat to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the house. During the summer, the reverse is true. The system pulls heat from the house and carries it through the loop where it is deposited in the cooler earth. Unlike conventional systems, the geothermal systems do not burn fossil fuels to generate heat, they simply transfer the heat to and from the earth.
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Geothermal loops are environmentally friendly. These systems are safe and clean because they do not have flames, flues or odors. It does not emit carbon dioxide which is a major contributor to environmental air pollution. The geothermal systems work with nature. They minimize the threats of acid rain, air pollution and the greenhouse effect.
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Illustrations courtesy of
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc.
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