Tapping Beneath Our Feet

eothermal heat and cooling systems work in Gharmony with the environment by capturing the renewable stored beneath the earth’s surface. They can make signifi cant contributions to a cleaner environment by saving energy consumption, cutting the use of fossil fuels, slashing air pollution and A Comfortable Green Energy Solution reducing our impacts to climate change. ❚ Geothermal heating and cooling saves energy, reduces fossil fuel use, and slashes carbon emissions. Geothermal heat systems effectively address ❚ Geothermal heat pumps are truly a “50-State” renewable one of the most hungry energy technology. Geothermal systems harness on-site consumers of U.S. energy. renewable energy available across America, providing Buildings dominate the energy savings for new construction and retrofi ts. nation’s energy use, ❚ Geothermal systems are a source of reliable energy that devouring over half of our doesn’t need new power plants or transmission lines. electricity and . ❚ Geothermal heat pumps are “Made in the USA” More than 70% of average by an innovative industry that is creating thousands of energy demand for a typical local, skilled jobs across America. From manufacturing single family home is to meet through system design, distribution and installation, heating and cooling (thermal) the geothermal heat industry is an engine needs. With a geothermal of our economy. , that energy use can be cut by 40% to 70%, ❚ The CO reduction benefi ts of geothermal heat pump 2 reaping huge savings on systems are substantial compared to traditional air-to-air your utility energy bill. And heat pumps or natural gas heating systems with electric geothermal heat pumps are . They shrink the of a a renewable, clean energy typical American home by nearly 50%. source that we can all use Geothermal heat pump systems ❚ Higher fi rst cost is associated with excavation or drilling without the need for are “Made in the USA” by an innovative industry that is creating to install ground loops. With federal 30% residential / 10% additional expensive, thousands of jobs across America. commercial tax credits — plus various state and utility fossil-fueled power plants rebates around the country — payback for the higher cost and intrusive electric of typical installations compared to standard heating and transmission lines. air conditioning equipment is typically 5 to 8 years. Horizontal loop Where space allows, the sealed piping loop is buried in trenches from 3 to 6 feet deep.

Vertical loop According to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Where space is limited, Protection Agency, geothermal heating and cooling systems are the the sealed piping loop is most environmentally friendly way to control the indoor environments inserted in boreholes from of homes, businesses, and institutional spaces of all sizes. With additional 150Horizontal to 400 ft. deep. loop equipment, they can be used for essentially free hot water — and even HorizontalWhere space allows, loopthe sealed piping loop is buried in trenches from 3 to 6 feet deep. for heating floors and swimming pools. Where space allows, the sealed piping loop is buried in trenches from 3 to 6 feet deep. How Do They Work? Geothermal heat pump systems can be sized to heat and cool any building, large or small, in any climate.

Optional Intermittent ‘Bleed’ A series of plastic pipes — called ground loops — are buried beneath Well water loop theStanding earth’s surface Column where temperaturesWell are constant from 40° to 80° WhereHorizontal groundwater isloop adequate, well F Wherethroughout near-surface the yearbedrock depending is upon where you live. The pipes are waterWhere can space be usedallows, directly the sealed without piping a loop sealedavailable tight, and andgroundwater connected is of to the geothermal heating and cooling Verticalsealedis buried piping in trenches loop.loop from 3 to 6 feet deep. limited quantity and adequate system inside the building. Water circulates through the underground WhereVertical space is looplimited, quality. With adequate well length, the sealed piping loop is pipes.well water There can are be directlyfive types used of ground loop installations, shown at left. insertedWhere space in boreholes is limited, from instead of the sealed piping loop. 150the sealed to 400 piping ft. deep. loop is inserted in boreholes from During the summer months in cooling mode, unwanted heat indoors 150 to 400 ft. deep. is transferred outside through the water in the pipes for cooling by the earth. The cool water is then circulated to the geothermal system indoors to provide efficient air conditioning. During the winter months in heating mode, the process is reversed. The earth heats the water circulating through the pipes, which is transferred to the geothermal Vertical loop system indoors to provide comfortable space heating. Hot water can Horizontal loop Where space is limited, alsoOptional be Intermittent provided ‘Bleed’ for little or no additional monthly energy cost. Pondthe sealed looppiping loop is Where space allows, the sealed piping loop Wheninserted a water in boreholes body is from Optional Intermittent ‘Bleed’ is buried in trenches from 3 to 6 feet deep. Well water loop Standing Column Well available,150 to 400 the ft. sealed deep. piping Where groundwater is adequate, well Where near-surface bedrock is loopWell can bewater submerged loop Standing Column Well water can be used directly without a available and groundwater is of beneath the surface. Cooling Mode Heating Mode sealedWhere groundwaterpiping loop. is adequate, well limitedWhere near-surfacequantity and bedrock adequate is water can be used directly without a quality.available With and adequate groundwater well is length, of sealed piping loop. welllimited water quantity can be and directly adequate used insteadquality. ofWith the adequate sealed piping well length,loop. well water can be directly used instead of the sealed piping loop.

Optional Intermittent ‘Bleed’ Vertical loop Well water loop Standing Column Well Where space is limited, Where groundwater is adequate, well Where near-surface bedrock is the sealed piping loop is water can be used directly without a available and groundwater is of inserted in boreholes from sealed piping loop. limited quantity and adequate 150 to 400 ft. deep. Pond loop quality. With adequate well length, well water can be directly used WhenPond a water loop body is instead of the sealed piping loop. available, the sealed piping loopWhen can a water be submerged body is beneathavailable, the the surface. sealed piping loop can be submerged beneath the surface.

Optional Intermittent ‘Bleed’ Well water loop Standing Column Well Where groundwater is adequate, well PondWhere near-surface loop bedrock is water can be used directly without a Whenavailable a water and body groundwater is is of Geothermal exchanGe orGanization sealed piping loop. available,limited quantity the sealed and piping adequate quality. With adequate well length, loop can be submerged www.GeoExchange.org | (888) 255-4436 beneathwell water the cansurface. be directly used instead of the sealed piping loop.

Pond loop When a water body is available, the sealed piping loop can be submerged beneath the surface.