Geothermal Heating & Cooling

Kenergy encourages the installation of energy-efficient geothermal or electric air-source heating and cooling systems, which take advantage of the earth's free energy. At 300 percent efficiency, a geothermal system is the most efficient heating and cooling system on the market.

HOW IT WORKS
A geothermal system is an electrically powered system that taps the natural energy stored in the earth to heat your home or business in the winter and cool it in the summer. The geothermal system contains three components: the geothermal unit, the liquid heat exchange medium (the closed-loop pipe system) and the air delivery system (the ductwork).

THE GEOTHERMAL UNIT
The geothermal system simply moves heat energy from one place to another. In the winter, liquid circulating through a loop of buried pipe absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the geothermal unit, which extracts the heat, compresses it to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the house. In the summer, the unit works in reverse, extracting heat from the house and transferring it back to the circulating liquid in the underground system, where it is dissipated into the cooler earth. Since the unit transfers heat rather than manufactures it, a geothermal system typically delivers three times more heating and cooling energy than it consumes. In addition, the geothermal system also may be used to heat water for household use saving you up to 50% on your water heating bill. The actual unit is placed inside your home, the basement, garage or crawl space where the surrounding temperature is above 45 degrees at all times. Because geothermal systems are housed indoors, the lifespan of the compressor and major components are greatly expanded. Most units last 20 years or more...and you won't have the noise or service problems you have with an outdoor unit.

THE LOOP PIPE SYSTEM
The term closed-loop is used to describe the geothermal system which uses a continuous loop of special buried pipe as a heat exchanger. The pipe is connected to the indoor geothermal unit to form a sealed, underground loop through which a special liquid is circulated. These closed loops are laid in trenches horizontally or wells vertically. Both are placed in yards adjacent to the building. Any area near a home or business with appropriate soil conditions and adequate square footage will be suitable.

The pipe is made from a long-lasting, non-corrosive material that has leak-proof joints and does not develop stress cracks when subjected to the pressures of the geothermal system. Properly installed, these pipes will more than 50 years.

THE DUCTWORK
When the geothermal system is replacing another forced-air system, often the existing ductwork can be utilized. This is known as a retrofit. Your installer will be able to determine ductwork requirements and minor modifications needed, if any.

Ductwork must be installed in homes that don't have an existing air distribution system. The cost of installing ductwork can be assessed by your installer.

OPERATING COMPARISON & CASE STUDY

COMPARISONS: Following are operating cost estimates and efficiencies for different types of heating and cooling equipment in an average-size home (approximately 1,500 square feet). Resistance heat includes baseboards, ceiling cable and electric furnace. Propane based on $1.20 per gallon + $40 yearly tank rental. Natural gas based on $.80 per CCF.