Geothermal Heat Pumps

What Is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy is the heat from the earth. It can be found almost anywhere, including Virginia.

Geothermal heating capitalizes on the fact that temperatures in the Earth remain fairly constant when digging just a few feet below the surface. Whether you live somewhere where temperatures fluctuate or somewhere with a more constant temperature, the temperature below the surface stays relatively the same.

The upper part of the earth’s crust, roughly the first ten feet of ground, can maintain a temperature between about 50°F and 60°F. Geothermal heat pumps can use this energy to heat and cool buildings while using less energy than a typical HVAC system.

Geothermal heat pumps do not burn fossil fuels; instead they simply transfer heat from the earth to your home and back out. Because these pumps harness the earth’s available energy, they can save you anywhere from 30 to 70 percent on your bill over the next five to ten years.

Say it’s 5°F one night during the winter, and you have your thermostat set for a cozy 72°F in your home. It takes a lot less energy to reach your desired temperature if the starting point is 55°F using a geothermal heat pump.

How Does Geothermal Work?

Geothermal HVAC systems use a series of equipment and piping to transfer the earth’s energy to and from your house. A heat pump exchanger is the series of pipes called the “loop.” This loop of pipes is buried in the ground either vertically or horizontally, depending on the geography of the region. A fluid (usually water mixed with environmentally friendly antifreeze) is circulated through the pipes to absorb and dispel the heat from the ground. This heat is then extracted by the heat pump unit and delivered in or out of your living spaces using conventional ductwork air delivery systems.