As the world becomes more aware of the impact that we have on the environment around us, there is more effort being made to adopt eco-friendly practices. Homeowners are more interested in finding ways to use sustainable methods to run their homes. From solar electricity, harnessing the power of the wind, and using hydropower; there are many innovative ways to run your home using the earth.
From setting up a solar system to draw electricity, installing a Eurosun solar water heater to using geothermal energy to heat and cool your home; there are many things that you can do to create a more eco-friendly home.
Geothermal power has been misunderstood until recently. You may think that you need to live near a hot spring or at the edge of a volcano to take advantage of the earth’s natural heating and cooling power. The truth is that the process is much easier than you would think and can work just about anywhere.
How Does It Work?
The earth holds a constant temperature as little as just 10 feet below the surface. The temperature in both the winter and the summer stays at a steady rate. You may have noticed this phenomenon every time you go into your basement on a hot summer day and find that the temperature is much cooler than the rest of your home.
Geothermal systems take advantage of this constant earth temperature to keep your home comfortable all year long. By running a series of pipes from outside your home, underground, and back up into your home, you can control your internal temperature.
Open Loop System
The basic open-loop system works by drawing in the outside air first. As the air travels down into the earth, it either heats or cools to the standard underground temperature. That converted air then gets drawn up into your home.
For example, if the temperature outside is ninety degrees Fahrenheit, once the hot air gets drawn into the piping via an exhaust fan, it will start to cool. The underground constant temperature of fifty-five degrees will begin to cool down the hot air. As the air moves through the piping, it continues to cool. Once it is drawn out of the pipes and into your home, the air is cooled down significantly. A geothermal system can take 90-degree air and cool it down to around 70 degrees by the time it reaches your home—instant air conditioning.
In the winter months, the process is reversed. Cold air is drawn into the pipes then warmed in the earth before being transferred to your home.
Closed-Loop System
The warming and cooling principles are the same for both geothermal systems, but a closed-loop uses a bit of a different setup. A closed-loop system uses underground pipes that are filled with a water-based solution. The heat or coolness of the water is then radiated into the home using a thermostat to make the internal temperature more comfortable.
Benefits Of Geothermal Heating & Cooling
The most significant advantage of using a geothermal heating and cooling system is reducing your power costs. Homeowners can expect to save more than 50% on their monthly bills.
The environmental advantages should not be underestimated. A geothermal system can reduce your carbon emissions by over 90%, making your home more sustainable.
A geothermal system can take time and money to install. However, the long term benefits make this sustainable feature a must-have for many homeowners. You can take hold of the power of the earth to keep your home comfortable all year long while significantly reducing your carbon footprint and doing your part to help save the environment.