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How It Works

Geothermal systems rely on the relatively constant temperature of the ground or groundwater a few feet below the earth’s surface. While traditional systems have to heat or cool outside air, geothermal systems don’t have to work as hard—despite the major shifts in air temperature in winter and summer, underground it remains a temperate 45° F to 70° F.

The earth’s natural heat is collected through a series of pipes, called a loop, installed several feet below the surface. Once installed, the loop remains out of sight. Fluid circulating in the loop carries heat into the building, where an indoor geoexchange system (compressors and heat exchangers in a vapor compression cycle, similar to a refrigerator) concentrates the energy and releases it into the building at the desired temperature. In summer, the process is reversed—excess heat is drawn from the building, expelled to the loop and absorbed by the earth, thereby cooling the building.

Sources: Us Department of Energy, IGSHPA, Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium