Geothermal Energy: Low-Grade Energy To Power Your Home Or Pool
As an alternative to more conventional sources of heating and cooling, geothermal energy provides an extremely efficient and cost-saving way to heat your pool or spa or to heat and cool your home.
Geothermal heat pump systems work by capturing, moving and releasing heat, taking it where it’s wanted and removing it from where it’s not necessary. The system accomplishes this by using a network of pipes containing a refrigerant that is pressurized and depressurized as it moves through the components. As the refrigerant pressure changes, it shifts from liquid to gaseous form and back again; this change of state is what allows the refrigerant to absorb and release heat energy.
In ground-based geothermal systems, the low-grade energy they harness is actually stored solar energy. At a depth of about six feet, the temperature remains relatively constant at around 45 to 70 degrees throughout the year, no matter how hot or cold the temperatures at the surface get. In a ground-based geothermal application, this consistent temperature is what allows the system to effectively transfer heat to and from your home.
Water-based geothermal systems use the heat energy from lakes, aquifers, wells or other liquid sources that also maintain a consistent year-round temperature. The water is pumped out of the source and into a heating unit, where the refrigerant extracts the heat and uses it for purposes such as pool heating. The expended water is pumped back into the lake or other source without ever mingling with the pool water.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are extremely efficient sources of energy. They do not produce pollution because they don’t burn fuels to generate heat. They use less electricity than other types of HVAC systems. They can reduce monthly heating bills by a tremendous amount, sometimes 70 to 90 percent over the cost of gas heating and 30 percent over the cost of a standard air-to-air heat pump.
Symbiont Service Corp. is a trusted source of geothermal energy for customers throughout the Suncoast. Contact us today for answers to your questions about the many benefits of geothermal energy or to schedule an appointment.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Englewood, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Geothermal energy and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
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