Geothermal Heat Facts and Figures
No matter where you live, you can use the stable temperatures of the earth to condition building spaces. In winter, the ground is warmer than the air, so it can be used to heat a house. In summer that relationship flips and the cool ground can act like A/C.
A heat pump works somewhat counterintuitively, by extracting heat from a cool space (the earth) and dumping it in a warm space (your house), much like a refrigerator draws heat out of its cool interior and emits it into your kitchen. The pump transfers heat using a nontoxic fluid with a low boiling point.
This fluid runs through an underground pipe system, absorbing warmth from the earth and reaching a boil rapidly.
Evaporated gas (equivalent of steam) is then compressed ; the high pressure causes the gas to condense, releasing its heat to warm the house and heating water for domestic use and the outdoor pool.
The low-pressure fluid is then returned underground to pick up more heat, carry it into the house, and deliver it again.
The process can be run in reverse in the summer, absorbing indoor heat into the fluid and depositing it underground.
Solar panels provide supplementary energy to heat the boiler and pool.
A heat pump actually delivers more thermal energy than it uses. Conventional heaters can’t provide more energy than what’s contained in the fuel that’s burned. But heat pumps use a small amount of electricity to move a large amount of thermal energy around. Most of the heat comes from the earth, and the only input required is the electricity to run the compressor.
While conventional heaters have efficiencies of around 80 percent, heat pumps can have efficiencies greater than 100 percent, typically around 300 to 400 percent.
Articles
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Hot Rocks
Taking a calculated turn from tradition, two Czech architects designed a modern rendition of a classic Bohemian home, powered by solar panels and a geothermal heat pump that draws energy from the…
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Social Heat
What’s the best way to warm a small studio? Ekaterina Voronova opted for a compact wood-burning stove to keep her space cozy.
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Long Division
The dark, primeval mountains and jagged ravines of New Zealand are free of rampaging Orcs, but Middle-earth, 2007, has another nuisance on the loose. It is the load-bearing truck, carrying a quaint…
Products
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Dyson Hot Fan Heater
Slender and unobtrusive, this attractive little guy exudes a continuous jet of hot air that’s funneled through an ovoid aperture, dispersing warmth about the room quickly and efficiently.
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Hot Plates
Too hungry to take the time to heat up your leftovers? Pile these melamine plates high, and you can just pretend your food is coming straight off the gas cooker coils (turkey sandwiches taste…
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Nest Learning Thermostat
Rather than carelessly cranking up the heat, train Nest to learn your temperature preferences. The clever thermostat tracks usage, offering tips on how to save energy and money.
Tip
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Daylight, and a Concrete Floor
Lynn Gaffney: A concrete floor with radiant heat is a very comfortable and energy-efficient way to heat a home, and doesn’t use up wood or other materials for flooring.
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