Geothermal Heating Systems

The earth is a wonderful source of heat. Just ask the burrowing animals that depend on it for warmth in the winter. In fact, the earth stores 47 percent of the solar energy that reaches us, making it a natural source of heat for our homes, if we can get it out. And we can. Geothermal heating systems move the heat from the ground into your home using the same technology your refrigerator uses to remove heat from food. When a cat curls up at the bottom vent of a refrigerator, it simply is enjoying the warm result of the refrigeration process. That explains the heating process, but the system simply reverses to provide cooling during the hot months twice as efficiently as any other air conditioning system. It's an elegant solution to home climate control.

The heart of a geothermal heating system is a cleanly designed box that looks like the average gas furnace, except that it replaces the fuel burner with a refrigeration system that converts heat from the earth into warmth for your home. Yes, geothermal heating systems use electricity, but because they only use it to move heat already available in the ground, they use a lot less than other electric heating systems.

And a geothermal heating system can do more than heat and cool; it can provide virtually free hot water and superior home dehumidification.