What
is Geothermal?
The
earth absorbs almost 50% of all solar energy and remains
a nearly constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F
depending on geographic location. Working with an underground
loop system, a geothermal unit utilizes this constant
temperature to exchange energy between your home and
the earth as needed for heating and cooling.
In the winter months, a water solution circulating inside a sealed loop
absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the unit. The Geothermal
unit then compresses it to a higher temperature and releases it as warm
air to your indoor system for distribution throughout your home.
In the summer months, the system reverses and takes heat from your home
and expels it to the cooler earth via the loop system. This heat exchange
process is not only natural, but is a truly ingenious and highly efficient
way to create a comfortable climate in your home.
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Heating
During the heating cycle, a WaterFurnace geothermal heat pump uses the earth
loop to extract heat from the ground. As the system pulls heat from the
loop it distributes it through a conventional duct system as warm air.
The same heat energy can also be used for a radiant floor system or domestic
hot water heating.
Cooling
In the cooling mode, the heating process is reversed - creating cool, conditioned
air throughout the home. Instead of extracting heat from the ground, heat
is extracted from the air in your home and either moved back into the earth
loop, or used to preheat the water in your hot water tank.
Geothermal vs.
Geoexchange: what's in a name?
Geothermal energy has been used to heat and air condition buildings for several
decades, and, during that time, these geothermal systems have been called many
different things. Some of the more popular variations include
geo-thermal,
geoexchange, ground-water, ground-water assisted, ground-water-source, water-to-water,
and even
our company name, water furnace heating and cooling.
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