Jarret Kelley
Energy Engineer
Geothermal heat pumps move heat to or from the near constant temperature of the earth rather than the fluctuating temperatures of the outside air. This allows the system to operate much more efficiently by utilizing a heat sink or source that is much closer to the desired temperature in the space. In terms of cooling, on a hot summer day, the ground temperature is somewhere between 50°F – 60°F, whereas the air temperature could be somewhere in the 90°F – 100°F range. As you can imagine, it is much more difficult to reject the heat when it is 90°F rather than when it is 55°F, and therefore more energy is required. In terms of heating, even the best boiler systems on the market are not 100% efficient, whereas heat pumps can be over 400% efficient. This means that 4 units of heat are delivered for every 1 unit of energy consumed. While the upfront costs tend to be higher, the energy savings can create a payback in as little as five years.
Depending on the resource available, geothermal systems can be set up in a number of ways. There are closed loop vertical wells, closed loop horizontal wells, pond loops, open loops and standing column wells. The engineers at Plug Smart can help you determine which system makes the most sense for your application. Whether you are retrofitting a new HVAC into an existing building or starting from scratch, you should at least consider the many advantages of geothermal.