What is Geothermal Energy?

What can geothermal systems be used for?
Geothermal systems can be used to heat and cool your home or business. The system can also be a hot water supply and heat the floors in both residential and commercial buildings.

What are the primary components of a geothermal system?
There are 3 primary components of a geothermal heat pump system.

1. the geothermal heat pump
2. underground pipes called geothermal loops or ground loops and
3. ductwork

A Geothermal heat pump is a renewable alternative to a furnace or boiler system. A typical heating system such as a furnace or boiler creates heat by burning fuel such as natural gas or propane in a combustion changer. A geothermal heat pump uses the ground’s constant temperature to exchange heat to and from the ground.
Geo loops or ground loops are buried under the ground. The loops contain a fluid mixture of water and a small amount of antifreeze to assist in the transfer of heat. There are two types of ground loop systems. Closed loop systems and open loop systems. The most commonly used geothermal loop system in the Rockford area is a closed ground loop system. Closed ground loop systems can be installed vertically, horizontally or by a pond or lake.

How efficient is geothermal energy?
Geothermal is the most efficient way to heat and cool your home or office space. Heating, cooling and hot water make up approximately two thirds of total energy used in a home, so considering a geothermal system has the biggest potential for saving on energy consumption.
The typical high efficient furnace is around 96 percent efficient. A geothermal system is 400 percent efficient because it doesn’t produce heat, it simply transfers heat from the ground.

What does a geothermal system look like?
A typical heating and air conditioning system may consist of a furnace and an air conditioner. The furnace is generally placed in the basement or the attic of the home. The air conditioner condenser is placed outside of the home.
The geothermal heat pump tends to look like a furnace and would generally go in place of where your current furnace or boiler is located. The outdoor condenser would be eliminated.

Do geothermal systems need maintenance?
Geothermal systems do not require much maintenance. There are a few things that can be done to assist in keeping the system in good condition.

1. Change filters regularly. Changing the filter regularly will improve air quality, but it’s also important in allowing air to flow through the system.
2. Check your thermostat to ensure there aren’t any default codes
3. Check your drain pan. Make sure water dripping into the drain pan is normal and that the drain is free of debris.

How much does a geothermal system cost?
Geothermal systems do have a higher upfront cost. It could cost several times the amount as a traditional heating and cooling system.

How long does a geothermal system last?
According to the department of energy, a geothermal heat pump has a life expectancy around 20+ years

How long do geothermal ground loops last?
Ground loops last between 25-50 years.

Do heat pumps use electricity?
Yes. Heat pumps do use a small amount of energy. Therefore, the heat pump will not work if there is no power source.