| Geothermal heat pumps are a relatively new | | | | |
| technology. This technology can save | | | | Ground loops can be installed in a vertical |
| homeowners soe energy bill money. These | | | | well or a horizontal loop. Vertical wells are |
| ground-source heat pumps use the natural heat | | | | usually more expensive and used where space |
| storage capacity of the earth or ground water | | | | is limited. The length of loop pipe required |
| to provide energy efficient heating and | | | | will vary with soil type, loop configuration, |
| cooling. | | | | and system capacity. Loop length can range |
| | | | from 100 to 300 meters per ton of capacity. |
| Geothermal heat pumps use the relatively | | | | |
| constant temperature of the ground or water | | | | Special heat pump features can include |
| several meters below the earth's surface as | | | | variable speed blowers and multiple-speed |
| source of heating and cooling. Geothermal | | | | compressors. These features can improve |
| heat pumps are appropriate for retrofits or | | | | comfort and efficiency in areas where heating |
| in new homes, where both heating and cooling | | | | and cooling loads are quite different. Add-on |
| are desired. In addition to heating and | | | | features include the capability to produce |
| cooling, geothermal heat pumps can provide | | | | hot water. |
| domestic hot water. They can be used for | | | | |
| virtually any size home or lot in almost any | | | | Desuperheaters can be added to supplement the |
| region with the existence of ground water. | | | | production of domestic hot water when there |
| | | | is a demand for space heating or cooling. |
| A geothermal heat pump system consists of | | | | These devices make use of excess heat during |
| indoor heat pump equipment, a ground loop, | | | | the cooling cycle and use some of the heat |
| and a flow center to connect the indoor and | | | | during the heating cycle to supplement hot |
| outdoor equipment. The heat pump equipment | | | | water production. Dedicated water heaters can |
| works like a reversible refrigerator by | | | | be added which operate whenever there is a |
| removing heat from one location and | | | | demand for hot water. |
| depositing it in another location. The ground | | | | |
| loop, which is invisible after installation, | | | | Geothermal heating can be more efficient than |
| allows the exchange of heat between the earth | | | | electric resistance heating. These systems |
| and the heat pump. | | | | are also typically more efficient than gas or |
| | | | oil-fired heating systems. They are more |
| Geothermal heat pumps can either be open- or | | | | energy efficient than air-source heat pumps |
| closed loop. Open-loop systems draw well | | | | because they draw heat from, or release heat |
| water for use as the heat source or heat | | | | to, the earth, which has moderate |
| sink, and after use, return the well water to | | | | temperatures year round, rather than to the |
| a drainage field or another well. Closed-loop | | | | air (which is generally colder in winter and |
| or earth-coupled systems use a water and | | | | warmer in summer than the earth, resulting in |
| antifreeze solution, circulated in a ground | | | | less effective heat transfer). |
| loop of pipe to extract heat from the earth. | | | | |