Geothermal
IT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND
The word geothermal means hot earth. Geo means earth and thermal means hot. Under the surface of the earth or what we call the earth’s interior, it is very very hot – so hot in fact the 6450km deep, the temperatures can reach over 5000 degrees. These volcanic molten rocks are known as magma. Sometimes the magma can reach the surface of the earth where is comes out of volcanoes as lava but most of the magma stays below the crust of the heating rocks and rainwater that has seeped down into the earth. This hot water is known as geothermal water.
"Database of Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency or DSIRE divided by state. This allows you to see any available incentives that have to do with geothermal or green energy for your area. There are different incentives available on the federal, state, and local county levels."
Geothermal heating… Geo=ground… thermal=heat. Someone told me the other day that it was really hot under the ground and that’s how they worked. Well I hate to ruin this simple view, but that’s not how they work. It’s a little more complicated than that. This post gives the simple explanation, and then the physics explanation.
But it is not all about "heat" as we can also reverse the cycle and "cool" our thermal envelope. HUH? Thermal envelope?
First you must realize that there is energy in everything. Once it’s not at absolute zero, it’s got energy in it, thermal energy. Next you need to have a vague understanding of pressure. In a fluid the molecules are all flying around, vibrating, that sort of thing. If you heat them up, they vibrate more, and so the fluid expands. What’s really interesting here though is that it also works in reverse. If you compress a fluid, it tries to give out heat. Similarly if you let a fluid decompress, it will try to suck in heat from its surroundings. Basically what I’m saying is that by changing pressure, you can actually make a fluid give out, or suck in, thermal energy.
We all know not only is geothermal heating and air conditioning better for the environment, but it saves you a lot of money on your energy bill. The efficiency of Geothermal Heating and Air Conditioning is approximately 50-65% more efficient than an HVAC system. Specific savings vary due to factors such as different house designs, equipment efficiency, fuel costs, and weather. Our units also experience more longevity in parts and overall quality. In fact, a recent independent study revealed our geothermal units were rated as lasting twice as long as an air conditioning unit! The life span of our closed loop system equipment is rated at 25.5 years while a normal air conditioner is rated to last only about 12 years. Combining all of these factors together makes the switch to geothermal heating and air conditioning a smart decision.
You can take a look at Water Furnaces' Envision equipment here which we usually install due to it having the highest efficiency rating. This is a big part of the savings you recoup on your system which is using the bare minimum of electricity to run.
For more specific calculations of savings please see and compare the different geothermal savings calculators. These allow you to pick your residential area, type of heat/air conditioning you currently use, and how many residents live in your home. They then show you the amount you would be saving by making the switch!
If you are building a new home and would like to size a renewable energy system to power it, fill out the contact form as completely as you can.