When it comes to environmentally friendly HVAC systems,
geothermal heat pumps
are a promising and increasingly popular option. Baby boomer customers are attracted to the energy savings geothermal HVAC systems offer. Millennials consider going geothermal because it’s better for the planet. In fact, geothermal is expected to supply 10 to 20 percent of the world’s energy by 2050.
Geothermal HVAC and power systems use Earth temperature for heat exchange. While some areas of the country experiences extreme climates, temperatures underground remain constant.
Geothermal heat pumps are considered a form of
high efficiency heat pump
. These systems rely on heat transfers between the air and the ground to provide heating and cooling to homes and buildings. Two other forms of geothermal systems are direct use geothermal and deep and enhanced geothermal. Direct use geothermal systems are common in regions with volcanic or tectonic activity that results in naturally heated groundwater. In these systems, hot water is pumped to use in its current state or in heat exchangers to condition the air in the building.
Deep and enhanced geothermal systems are generally used to create electricity for large commercial, agricultural, and industrial applications. They rely on steam located far below the Earth’s surface that is accessed by drilling.
