What They Do
Geoexchange system provide heat in the winter and cooling in the summer, at efficiencies that are far better than those for most alternative systems. Like conventional heat pumps, they are essentially air conditioners that can also run in reverse to provide heat in the winter.  The primary difference is that they rely on the nearly constant temperature of the earth  for heat transfer instead of the widely fluctuating temperatures of the outside air. That is the key to the geoexchange unit’s surprising efficiency.

 

The Super Efficiency of  Geoexchange
Standard heat pumps, while relatively simple to operate, face one major challenge.  Their operating efficiency is lowest when demand is highest; that is, heat pumps have to work hardest when we want the most from them. Consquently, the geoexchange system operates at much higher yearround efficiencies than a standard heat pump.

 

The Cleanliness of Geoexchange Systems
Installing a geoexchange system is environmentally responsible. Since a geoexchange system merely transfers heat from the ground into your home in winter, you don’t need to burn any fossil fuels to create a warm interior environment. This approach drastically reduces carbon dioxide emissions (a greenhouse gas) compared with the operation of other heating systems, and completely eliminates the heating system as a potential source of carbon monoxide fumes within your home – making the geoexchange system an environmentally friendly as well as safe and healthy alternative to traditional oil and gas furnaces.

 

Making the Ground Connection
The unique aspect of the geoexchange system, and the key to its lengthy list of benefits, is the ground loop.  The ground loop provides the means of transferring heat to the earth in summer, andextracting heat from the earth in winter. Physically, the “ground loop” consists of several lengths of plastic pipe typically installed either in horizontal trenches or vertical holes that are subsequently covered withearth and landscaping of your choice. Moreover, once the ground loop is installed, you can typically forget about it. The polyethylene piping (the same type used for cross-country natural gas lines) does not degrade, corrode, of break downin ground or water contact, so sound installations are expected to last 50 years or more.

 

Free Hot Water
As a side benefit, most geoexchange systems can be designed to produce free hot water during the summer, by using waste heat extracted from the interior air during the air conditioning season. Even in the winter, the geoexchange unit can often help to reduce the use of electricity or gas by the hot water heater.

 

Premium Comfort Year Round
Geoexchange systems also provide superior year-round humidity control, and modular designs often make zoned heating and air conditioning practical – for even more comfort control through the entire house.