| Geothermal heat pumps harness the | | | | Households generally use a closed loop |
| heating and cooling powers of the earth | | | | system. A closed loop system uses an |
| in an energy efficient system that is | | | | underground pipe filled with a liquid |
| friendly to the environment. The | | | | solution to conduct heat or cool air. |
| geothermal heat pumps are considered | | | | The open loop system uses ground water |
| environmentally friendly since the | | | | or the earth to transfer the heat or |
| technology uses the earth as a heating | | | | cool air. |
| and cooling source of energy. Geothermal | | | | The geothermal heat pumps require an |
| heat pumps save consumers money because | | | | annual cleaning. Cleaning means that an |
| one geothermal heat pump can be used to | | | | acid based wash will be used on the |
| heat and cool a building. | | | | pipes. With regular maintenance, the |
| The geothermal heat pump does not need | | | | system will work well with infrequent |
| to burn fuel for heating or cooling. A | | | | need to replace parts. The air filter |
| geothermal heat pump transfers the earth | | | | should be checked and cleaned as often |
| heat into the home for heating purposes | | | | as once a month. A technician can |
| and absorbs heat from the home to cool | | | | provide any further details about the |
| it off. This system works ground pumps | | | | operation and care of the geothermal |
| that collect the heat in underground | | | | heat pump. |
| pipes. The heat is concentrated and | | | | Owners of geothermal heat pumps can save |
| stored in these pipes until it is | | | | money on their heating and cooling |
| needed. These same pipes will send the | | | | bills. Despite the cost of buying and |
| heat into the building upon command. | | | | installing the system, owners report |
| When the home is hot, the same heating | | | | significant savings from using the |
| pipes are used to draw the heat from the | | | | geothermal heat pumps in comparison to |
| home. The heat air is cooled underground | | | | heating or cooling the home with more |
| and sent back to the home. The | | | | traditional systems. Since the |
| geothermal heat pumps can be modified | | | | temperature of the ground and ground |
| for use in radiant floor heating, water | | | | water remains between 45 and 55 degrees |
| heaters and to melt snow along walkways | | | | Fahrenheit throughout the year, it |
| in the winter. | | | | allows the geothermal heat pump a |
| The system provides a steady stream of | | | | continual source of warm or cool air. |
| heat or cooled air into the home. Unlike | | | | Fans of the geothermal heat pumps claim |
| other heating systems, the geothermal | | | | that they save almost half the money |
| heat pump does not send particles into | | | | that they would have otherwise spent on |
| the air when it is working. Geothermal | | | | their heating bills and up to 30% on |
| heat pumps also provide silent service | | | | their costs to cool their home. |
| which is a welcome change from noisy air | | | | Geothermal heat pumps are used in homes, |
| conditioners or heating systems. The | | | | commercial and industrial buildings. |
| system is activated by a wall mounted | | | | Their ability to save on heating and |
| thermostat which can be used to heat or | | | | cooling costs is a tremendous attraction |
| cool the home. | | | | for many consumers. As an alternative |
| A geothermal heat pump may be either a | | | | heat source, the geothermal heat pump |
| closed loop or open loop system. | | | | has a great future. |