Heating and cooling your home can seem like a constant battle against nature. But nature itself provides a sustainable source of temperate air right in your own backyard.About ten feet below ground, the temperature year-round is near-constant at about 54 degrees. This is significantly cooler than the summer highs, and warmer than the winter lows. One of the most eco-friendly heating and cooling systems available, a geothermal heat pump uses this phenomenon to reduce the work your heater and your air conditioner have to do.Geothermal heat pumps route air through buried pipes called ground loops, allowing the loops to balance their temperature with the earth below the frost line. This gives the heating and cooling systems a big head start on their temperature adjustment, making for impressive efficiencies. Because of their high efficiency and environmental friendliness, geothermal heat pump systems are eligible for hefty tax credits.The geothermal loop best suited for your home will take full advantage of available terrain features. Different kinds of ground loops include:
The horizontal loop. Often the best option for homes with large yard space, as the trenches are among the shallower holes that can be dug for the ground loop system. A certain amount of space is required for these, making them less suitable for small properties.
Pond loops. A variation on horizontal loops, these take advantage of bodies of water such as ponds. This is only practical for bodies of water which meet certain depth and size standards, however.
Vertical loops. Though they require much deeper trenches than horizontal loops, vertical loops have a much smaller horizontal footprint, making them more practical for small properties and densely-built areas.
Open-loop and groundwater systems. Where there's an abundant supply of groundwater, this can be used as the heating/cooling fluid in place of air.
While this article can give you an idea of the options available, the best way to discover which geothermal heat pump system is right for your home is to talk to an expert. If you'd like to learn more, feel free to contact us at Air Assurance.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock