Q: What are geothermal heating and cooling systems, and how do they help me to save energy?

A: Geothermal heating and cooling is the most cost-effective and efficient method of heating or cooling a home available today. Beneath your property’s frost-line (generally 4-6 feet underground) the earth’s temperature is a near-constant 55ºF. Geothermal heating and cooling systems, also known as geo-exchange, can draw relatively warmer air into a home during winter months and dissipate hot air back into the earth during summer months.

Q: How can geothermal systems work in my home?

A: A series of pipes are installed underneath the frost-line and filled with an environmentally-safe coolant fluid. A compressor then pumps this fluid through the pipes, absorbing heat from the earth or dissipating it back into the cooler earth, depending on the season. A heat pump extracts heat from the pipes and augments the temperature, distributing it within the home at the owner’s desired temperature.

Q: What kind of pipes are used?  Could I install them myself?
A: The pipes used in geo-exchange systems are called “loops.” Two types of loops are available: closed and open. Closed loops are the most commonly used type and route a continuous stream of coolant through the pipes. Open loop systems use water from a surface or underground source in place of a coolant and water mixture. In an open loop system, water is routed back to the source or to a return well after having its heat extracted at the heat pump. Installation is difficult and should be done by a trained professional.

Q: How does it cool down my house? The term "geothermal" sounds like it would only provide heat.

A: The underground temperature stays at a relatively constant 55ºF, so if the temperature is higher than 55ºF within the household, the geo-exchange will bring the temperature down.