Geothermal Energy

Geothermal, geo exchange, ground heat, water furnace, heat pumps, are all names used to describe geothermal energy. Working on the same principles as a refrigerator or air conditioner, geothermal systems move heat from one area to another. When cooling is needed geothermal systems pull heat out of the home to be absorbed by a medium, cooled then returned to the home. To heat the home the system simply runs in reverse. The heat exchange medium can be air, water, an environmentally friendly antifreeze or the earth. Air to air systems are the least efficient. In colder climates it is not impossible, but it is inefficient to extract heat from cold air. In hot regions, air to air geothermal units just work like an air conditioner making them impractical. For these discussions we will be talking about ground source and direct exchange systems.