Myths about Geothermal Heating and Cooling System

While considering the world of geothermal heating and cooling systems, it is important to identify the facts from general assumptions. Many people believe in some false concepts related to the geothermal heating and cooling technology.  You must learn about the typical myths and facts about geothermal heating and cooling systems to make a wise decision about the selection of heating system for your home or business. Here we combined few common misconceptions about geothermal heating and cooling technology.

Geothermal heating systems are not appropriate in extreme winters

No matter how cold it is above the ground, temperature few feet below the surface of the earth remains constant at 54 degrees. A geothermal heating and cooling system extracts that constant underground heat to keep your indoors warm. So even in the coldest days there should be no problem at all for a geothermal heating systems to keep your home at a comfortable temperature making use of geothermal energy.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems need backup heat

Many homeowners prefer to install geothermal heating and cooling systems along with an addition of new or already existing backup heat source. A geothermal heating and cooling system of proper size can cover the heat load of your home quite comfortably so there is no need for any backup heat source.

Smaller property cannot manage geothermal heating and cooling system

There is another false opinion that geothermal heating and cooling systems are only for big lots. Design of a geothermal heating technology is flexible which can be adjusted according to the size of your home. Many people relate proper installation of geothermal heating and cooling system with the type of soil or terrain of their lands, but this idea doesn't make sense. All such obstacles and doubts could be dealt with if you are consulting qualified team of geothermal design and installation, like Smith Sustainable Design.

Only new homes can accommodate geothermal heating and cooling systems

You are not required to build a new home, in order to install geothermal heating and cooling system. Retrofitting geothermal heating system in your existing house is as common and convenient as integrating the system during construction. If you are looking for upgrading or replacing your typical heating or cooling system for your home or business, geothermal heating and cooling system makes the best option.

Geothermal heating and cooling system is are new technology

There is another incorrect notion that we cannot rely on geothermal heating and cooling systems because they are new and not trusted. Early Native Americans found an attractive location to settle in North America because of the naturally occurring geothermal hot springs there. Geothermal heating and cooling pumps were first designed and executed in the 1940's, to make use of the underground heat to maintain a comfortable temperature in homes and buildings. With  time, the concepts of geothermal energy has advanced and improved in efficiency.

Contact Smith Sustainable Design based in PA and NJ for a reliable information and advice about geothermal heating and cooling systems. With the help of facts, we will eliminate your doubts about geothermal heating systems helping you to decide best geothermal system for your home.

Geothermal Heating Systems are Energy-Efficient and a Greenest Option

Due to the climate change and other environmental issues, many homeowners and business owners prefer to use environmental friendly systems to reduce the harmful impacts on the environment. Very often we hear about the “green” products in the market that are supposed to have none or a little harmful impact on the environment during the cycle of their production to disposal. Geothermal heating system in terms of “green” is the most environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient system out of all other green products and systems.

In the United States, use of fossil fuels is very common for the purpose of heating and cooling, in a home and business. In order to maintain a comfortable temperature in your indoors, it requires almost 50 percent of the total energy consumption of an average home. Fossil fuels that are commonly used to provide heat to your home require more energy and are less efficient as compared to the geothermal heating system. Use of fossil fuels for heating purpose not only wastes valuable non-renewable resources, but it also results in damage to the environment.

Geothermal heating systems need much lesser energy than a furnace or other heating systems thus have the highest positive impacts on the environment. There are no burning of fossil fuels involved in the case of geothermal heat pumps. This system utilizes natural energy present within the earth's interior to provide heat to your home or office. Overall operation of geothermal heat pumps needs energy of the earth and electricity, making the working of heat pumps free of any combustion and unsafe byproducts such as greenhouse gases. Geothermal heating systems use a larger percentage of natural geothermal energy for the operation instead of electricity, which makes it possible to lower the energy consumption by conserving electricity.

Because of their high efficiency almost half of the world’s direct geothermal usage is associated with geothermal heating systems. The efficiency of geothermal heat pump systems is higher than the other available green products and systems so they are more effective in reducing harmful environmental impacts. You can make your home environmental friendly and truly “green” by installing geothermal heating system. These systems will help you to reduce your carbon footprint and save your money for any other heating or cooling system. For more information on Geothermal heating systems, call Smith Sustainable Design based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Advantages of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Part 2

Previously we were discussing some benefits of geothermal heat pump systems. In this second part, we will consider some additional benefits of geothermal heat pump systems. Many homeowners install geothermal heating systems to lower their energy consumption and energy expenses. This properties of a heat pump makes them a wise option for your home and the environment.

Geothermal Heating Systems are Energy Efficient

The energy requirement, of a geothermal heat pump systems, is significantly lower than a gas and oil  furnace. Even the other type of heat pumps like the air source heat pumps require more energy to operate as compared to the geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are more energy-efficient than any other heating and cooling systems so, they are more effective in reducing your energy bills. A geothermal heating and cooling system's high efficiency and low operating cost makes it possible to pay back your investment in a geothermal heat pumps installations in few years.

Free Hot Water with Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Hot water is a need of every home for many purposes such as laundry, shower, dish washing, and other. Geothermal heat pumps facilitate your hot water demand providing hot water for your home along with maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors in every season. Geothermal heat pumps extract heat from the earth and transfer the surplus heat in your hot water tank. A geothermal heat pumps can lower your hot water bills by producing hundreds of gallons of free hot water each year.

Geothermal Heat Pumps are Environmental Friendly

If you want to keep your environment safe and healthy, you must consider a geothermal heat pumps over the other heating systems. Efficiency of geothermal systems is extremely high about 500 percent in extreme winters. It will require less energy to operate geothermal heat pumps to keep your home warm in winters and cool in summers. Due to the smaller energy need, geothermal heating systems do not have harmful impacts on the environment as compared to a gas or oil furnace, which emits hazardous gases polluting the environment. 

Contact Smith Sustainable Design today, if you want to install ideal heating system for your home receiving several advantages accosted with it. You can take advantage of keeping the temperature of your home comfortable with highly efficient, environmentally safe, and durable geothermal heating pump systems. 

Advantages of Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Part 1

Geothermal heating pump system are the most energy-efficient and environmental friendly way of providing heat to your home. Homeowners can get several benefits from the geothermal heating systems. In typical heating systems for your home, fossil fuels are burnt in the gas or oil furnaces that emit toxic gases causing serious harm to the environment and health of the people. One of the benefits of geothermal heating systems is that it prevents you to put your environment and health at risk by depending on fossil fuels. The system maintains comfortable temperature for your home in winter and summer in an environmental friendly way.

Installing A Geothermal Heat Pump in any Building

No matter if you are planning for a new home or have already lived in your home for years, you can take advantage of installing a geothermal heating pump in your home. In case of a new home, you can easily configure a geothermal heat pump design in the beginning of the construction of your home. For an already built home, a geothermal heating system can be retrofitted without carrying out significant modifications in your structure. Geothermal heating systems also cab require lesser occupied space than a furnace so you may use that space for other needs.

Highly Comfortable Heating System

Geothermal heat pump systems help take care of the user’s satisfaction other than just providing a comfortable temperature for your home. Unlike traditional HVAC systems, geothermal heating systems produce less operating noise, which makes you feel relaxed. The system also maintains the humidity level in your home, which makes your place more comfortable throughout the year.

Long-lasting Heating System

Geothermal heat pump systems are highly durable as compared to the typical furnace having expected life of about 12 years on average. On the other hand, geothermal heat pump lasts as long as 20 year or more. The underground loop system of heat pumps is also designed and constructed in such a way to serve for many years. Geothermal heat pump systems can be easily maintained to increase their efficiency and durability. You can improve the service life of heat pump systems by regular maintenance. 

Protect your yard during geothermal heating and cooling system installation

In order to install the earth loop and ground source heat pump, geothermal heating and cooling system requires a considerable space in your yard. Because the installation of this system involves digging in your yard, some homeowners are concerned about the protection of their yards during the installation process. Before you consider a geothermal heating and cooling system for your home, you should have an idea how the installations can affect your yard. The information below may help you with your  concerns about damaging in your yard.

Due to the installations of a geothermal heating and cooling system your yard will be affected somehow. There can be tire tracks in result of heavy moving machinery used in the drilling process in your yard. It depends upon some natural elements whether your yard will sustain damage or not. Muddy condition due to the water or runoff can cause deeper tire tracks and untidiness in your yard. If the ground is dry, it may cause less damage due to the heavy moving equipment.

Smith Sustainable Design help you keep the negative effects minimum while installing geothermal heating system for your home. Our team of experts evaluate the condition of your soil and other factors affecting the installation process. The purpose is to help in the design of a geothermal heating and cooling system and to install it in all conditions.

We cannot control the natural impacts, but we can decide appropriate location and design of a geothermal heating and cooling system to minimize the negative effects. Horizontal earth loop damages more area in your yard because they are aligned horizontally under the ground. Vertical earth loop however occupies lesser space but requires deep digging. No matter which design you use without digging you cannot install any earth loops.

If you want a geothermal heating and cooling system for your home, it is preferred to rely on us. Effects to your yard will disappear in a short time after the installation of geothermal heating and cooling system. You will see no changes in your yard as soon as the grass grows. Smith Sustainable Design makes sure to reduce the negative effects and protect the areas in your yard you do not want to be damaged. Geothermal heating system recovers landscaping issues in a short time after the installation and provides long lasting and energy efficient way of cooling and heating your home.

Ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps

Ground source heat pump systems utilizes heat energy from the earth to keep your home warm. One important component of geothermal heating systems is a heat pump that regulates temperature distribution in your home. Heat pumps can be of different types, but the one used in geothermal heating systems is ground source heat pump which uses earth as a heat source. Air source heat pump is one of the other types of heat pumps, works similarly to ground source heat pump, but uses air as a heat source. It is important to understand the working of ground source and air source heat pumps to get an idea about the differences between both heat sources.

Heating

Ground source heat pumps are used in geothermal heating systems. Ground source heat pumps use earth’s energy in the form of heat. Heat energy circulates in the earth loop and warms the indoors. The name of the pump indicates that it uses ground or earth as a heat source. The earth absorbs a lot of heat energy from the sun and interior of the earth is a constant temperature. This temperature within the earth remains stable throughout the year and can be used to keep your structure warm regardless of low outdoor temperatures. We install ground source heat pumps inside the home to keep it protected from the severe cold weather of New Jersey. 

 Air source heat pump consumes heat from the atmosphere to keep your building heated. Air in the atmosphere contains energy in the form of heat that can be used to warm indoors. The question is  how can air source heat pumps maintain warm temperatures indoors when outdoor atmosphere is cold. The largest heat source, sun, is always giving heat energy to the air however the intensity of heat can vary because of the weather conditions. This means that heat can be extracted from the air in every season, but its quantity may not achieve the purpose of heating during the cold. The temperatures in winters can get extremely low in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can stop air source heat pump from providing enough energy that you need to warm your place. So you will need an extra heat source to meet your heating requirements in the winters.

Cooling

Ground source heat pumps also work to provide cooling indoors in the summer. It extracts hot air and humidity from the indoors to lower the temperature. Ground source heat pumps collect heat from your home and transfer that heat into the earth passing by refrigerant.  The earth loop of heat pump contains low-temperature fluid which absorbs the heat coming from your home. The heat containing fluid goes under the ground via pipes and transfers the heat into the earth.

Air source heat pump, on the other hand, cools indoors by collecting heat inside your home and moving it outdoors.

Both type of heat pump work on the same principle that is to move heat from higher temperature to lower temperature areas. The difference between two heat pumps is the energy sources that are air and ground. Geothermal heating system makes use of energy stored underground using ground source heat pump to cool or warm your home or office.

How do Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Work?

You can keep your home or office warm in winter and cool in summer with a naturally working process of geothermal heating and cooling systems. Interior of the earth contains stable temperatures that are used to warm and cool your home. The other heating systems involve burning of fossil fuels in gas or oil furnaces which pollute the environment. Geothermal heating systems, on the other hand, are environmental friendly and more efficient in terms of energy. Let’s discuss how geothermal heating systems work to cool and heat your home.

The temperature in the atmosphere varies all year, from day to day and in different time of the day however underground temperature remains constant all year. Geothermal heating system reaches the earth’s temperature and brings it up to warm your home, or it collects the heat from your home and dumps it into the earth to cool your home. In order to make use of the earth’s energy, geothermal heating system uses a network of underground piping to circulate water.

The two main components of geothermal heating systems are the heat pump and earth loop. The temperature in the earth is stable throughout the year. Geothermal heating pump uses the temperature of the earth to warm and cool your home. The earth loop contains liquid running through the pipes within the loop. The liquid goes inside the earth and brings heat energy back to keep your home. The purpose of heat pump is distribution of heat energy, its working depends upon the season to collect heat from your home or distribute in it.

During the winter geothermal heat pump compresses the heat from the earth, liquid in pipes absorbs this heat and distributes it throughout your home. In the summer, heat pump pulls the heat from your home and throws it inside the geothermal well through the earth loop making your structure cool. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are best fit to make your home and office warm in winter and cool in summer due to the heating and air conditioning effects.

Overall efficiency of geothermal heating system is much higher than other heating systems like a gas or oil furnace. The system is energy efficient because it easily exchanges heat from the earth. If you install geothermal heating and cooling system, it can easily eliminate the price you pay for heating and cooling of your home. Energy efficiency and natural process of heating your home make geothermal heating system clean and affordable. Contact Smith Sustainable Design if you want to learn more about the working of geothermal heating system or planning to install it for your home and office. 

Is a Geothermal Heat Pump System Right for me?

A Geothermal Heat Pump System is one of the most energy efficient heating systems used to keep a home warm during winter. In order to warm your home, geothermal heat pumps pull the heat stored in the earth’s interior and transfer it into your home. Geothermal heat pumps are also used to keep your home cool during the summer. In this case heat is transferred from your home into the earth. We will explain here how you can determine that geothermal heating system is appropriate for your home or not.

New construction or existing residence?

Now we have an idea that geothermal heating systems access thermal energy from the earth to provide heat for your home. It is important to drill geothermal boring holes on your property to reach the constant temperatures in the earth. You may need a considerable area on your property allocated for the drilling of geothermal wells. It can be easily done before you have constructed your home. Pre-existing structure limits the area for the drilling of geothermal wells. However, it is possible to retrofit geothermal heating system in already build home.

Your lot

The type of geothermal heating system that would be best for you depends upon the available space in your yard. There are two major components of geothermal heating systems, a loop field, and a heating pump. The geothermal loop fields could be installed in two directions, horizontal and vertical. Horizontal loop field requires a lot of space, therefore, is more suitable in rural areas. It doesn’t require deep drilling so sometimes is less costly than vertical loop field. Vertical loop field is more common method of installing geothermal heating system. It utilizes smaller area and needs deep drilling.  Both these loop fields have their benefits and drawbacks, and both are equally effective systems of heating your home.

Your Investment

Overall cost of geothermal heating system seems extremely high and shocking to many. But in the long run, the use of a geothermal heating and cooling system returns much more than its investment. The upfront cost in installing vertical or horizontal loop fields is higher than a fossil fuel furnace heating system. The higher efficiency of geothermal heating system can payback within a short period after their installation. Your investment to install geothermal heating pump will be appreciated by the considerable reduction of utility bills and you will see the investment restored within the few years of installation. Moreover, geothermal heating system requires low maintenance in contrast to other heating systems.