For Heating, Cooling and Hot Water

The Simple Solution

It's simple: people need to heat their homes in the winter.  And most people choose to cool their homes in the summer, too.  But it can seem like that's where the simplicity ends.  Different equipment, different energy sources, different needs...it can be hard to sort it all out.  There is a simple solution: a single system for heating, cooling, and even water heating, which uses the abundant, natural energy the earth stores beneath us.  It's the ground-source heat pump, or "geothermal system."  And it's simply your best home comfort solution!

How they Work

The earth has a handy property that makes geothermal systems possible: year-round temperature stability.  Picture a long pipe that loops underground.  Pour ice water into one end of the pipe, and warmer water comes out the other end.  The earth's stable temperature is warmer than the water and gives some of its heat to it.  Likewise, warm water going in would come out cooler.  This simple piece of physics is what makes the geothermal system work.  Fluid cycles through a "loop field," gathering up heat in the winter.  A compressor concentrates this natural energy and uses it for home heating.  In the summer, the process simply reverses.

The whole system is highly efficient AND environmentally friendly.  You aren't creating heat-you're only moving it from one place to another.  And of course, high efficiency means low cost!

Flexible Options 

Geothermal systems come in many styles to fit differing needs.

Vertical loops (picture A) use bore holes to sink tubing deep into the ground and require very little land.  The number of loops is varied to precisely match the needs of the installation.

When more land is available, horizontal loops can be trenched in 4-8 feet beneath the surface (picture B). Other innovative options, such as the 'slinky' loop, (picture C) make geothermal systems flexible and adaptable.  Your cooperative can help you decide which is best and put you in touch with qualified installers. 

Down-To-Earth Savings
Geothermal systems are the most efficient home heating and cooling options available today!  They don't create any heat and only require a small amount of electricity to power the system.  Comparing actual costs tells the whole story:

When a geothermal system is in use, excess heat energy can be routed to your water heater.  The result is saving two-thirds of your water heating cots year-round!