What is Geothermal?

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are electrically powered mechanical systems using refrigeration compressors, heat exchangers and circulating pumps, to capture and transport energy from almost any heat source to almost any heat sink. These systems use that captured heat energy to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and commercial buildings. GSHP equipment can also be used to capture and reuse energy from industrial processes, sewage, ice arenas, and many other non-traditional and marginal sources of heat energy.

Ground source heat pump systems come in two main configurations called closed or open loops. Open loop systems circulate water from subsurface aquifers, lakes, ponds, dugouts, streams, or the ocean to the GSHP for heat energy extraction or rejection. Closed loops consist of high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes installed horizontally in trenches or vertically in bore holes. The piping and pumping system circulates a water + antifreeze solution from the GSHP into the earth and back again to the GSHP for heat energy extraction or rejection.

In heating mode, once the heat energy is captured by one side of the GSHP it is transferred to the other side and then pumped either via fluid or air to a distribution system in the building.

In cooling mode, heat energy is captured from either the fluid or air in the building distribution system by one side of the GSHP and transferred to the other side, then pumped through the open or closed loop and rejected into the earth or the water body.

Either heating or cooling mode can also create free hot water in the summer and deliver substantial savings on hot water in winter by diverting captured heat energy into the domestic hot water system.

For more information on our technology and what it might cost to install in your area please contact one of our member companies.