Geothermal Energy Can Be Used At Home

Homes all over the world can take advantage of geothermal energy. Whether you live in the far north or in more southerly climes, you can use this energy form to both warm and chill your living space. Unlike fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases and are dwindling in supply, geothermal power is pollutant free, and the supply is inexhaustible.

People in the field like to say they don't need to make heat, just move it. If you dig down eight feet or so anywhere on the planet, the earth will be in the fifty degree range. Whether the weather is a hundred degrees outside where you are now or if it is closer to zero, you can realize that the temperature just a few feet down isn't far from what is considered ideal.

Geothermal power alone will cool any home. For heating purposes some people may wish to add an auxiliary unit to bring the temperature up to their comfort zone. Geothermal power is available at all times with the exact same productive level. This is an advantage over wind and solar which have erratic production and often are unable to work at all.

There are three parts to most home geothermal systems: a ground loop, a heat pump, and a heat distributor. For the ground loop, plastic piping is buried in the ground. A mix of anti-freeze and water and water flows through the pipes and back to the heat pump which removes the warmth and transfers it to the distribution system generally either forced air or radiant heating.

During warmer periods, the system can be run in reverse and used to cool. Heat is removed from the house in much the same fashion as in an air conditioner. Instead of evaporator coils, air coils are used to take heat from the air and transfer it to the liquid running through the pipes where it is emitted into the earth.

Such devices can be most easily installed when a home is under construction. In existing structures, some custom design work may be needed if the amount of yard space is limited in order to accommodate the ground loop. These systems require limited amounts of maintenance and tend to be durable. Earthquakes can wreak havoc with ground loops.

Savings of 70% are likely in heating costs with geothermal systems. 50% or more will be had in cooling bills. The cost of heating water will be lowered by a third. No pollutants are connected to geothermal power. It is a clean and renewable form of energy.

The Ohio-based geothermal supply company, Geo-Hydro Supply, connects geothermal system installers with the top-grade geothermal supplies they need, such as armaflex insulating tape and brass valves and fittings. With decades of experience in the geothermal installation field, they supply only the best, long-lasting geothermal supplies.