| The increasing popularity of residential geothermal | | | | required for the normal sized house. |
| systems is being driven partly by environmental | | | | Vertical Loops |
| concerns and Federal Government tax credits. | | | | These are generally used when the area available |
| Increasing efficiency of the mechanical | | | | around the home is limited or the soil is to shallow |
| components that lead to increased cost savings | | | | for trenches. It also has the benefit of minimizing |
| are another important factor. | | | | the disturbance of existing landscaping. |
| So just how do these systems work? | | | | Holes are drilled 4" in diameter and between 150 |
| Geothermal takes advantage of the fact that a | | | | and 400 feet deep. The number of holes needed |
| few feet under the surface the earth maintains a | | | | depends upon the size of the house being heated |
| constant temperature. Heat is drawn from the | | | | and cooled. Two pipes with a u-shaped connection |
| ground during the winter and the heat from the | | | | at the bottom are inserted into the holes to |
| house is transferred into the ground during the | | | | circulate either water or refrigerant. |
| summer. | | | | Lake Loops |
| To do this there are basically four different types | | | | This third type is used when a lake or pond at |
| of residential geothermal systems that urban | | | | least 8' deep is in the immediate area of the |
| homeowners can install. | | | | home. Pipes are circled through the lake to gain or |
| Which is best for any specific project will depend | | | | loose a homes heat. |
| upon the climate, soil conditions, land area available | | | | Open Loops |
| and local costs for the different systems. | | | | These are used when there is an underground |
| Horizontal Loops | | | | aquifer or lake nearby that can be used to |
| Horizontal loop systems are used when there is | | | | exchange water for the heating or cooling |
| an adequate amount of land available for the | | | | process. |
| horizontal trenches. This is generally also the | | | | With increasing costs and scarcity of fossil fuels |
| lowest cost system. | | | | alternative energy systems like residential |
| Trenches of four to six feet deep and two feet | | | | geothermal heating and cooling are going to |
| wide are dug to contain the systems pipes. | | | | become increasingly popular and economical. |
| Several hundred feet of trenches may be | | | | |