As fossil fuels get more expensive, society in general is
starting to get serious about finding new power sources.
Geothermal heating is a simple answer for homes.
Geothermal heating is a fairly old concept that has gained a new
life through advances in modern technology and materials. The
concept is best explained using a basic example.
In many parts of the world, homes come with basements. If you've
lived in such a home, you've probably failed to notice an
interesting fact. Everyone knows that a basement will remain
relatively cool during a summer, no matter how hot it gets
outside. Fewer people, however, realize a basement will maintain
fairly warm temperatures in the winter regardless of how cold it
is outside the home. This odd result has to do with how Mother
Earth regulates herself.
Ostensibly, geothermal power takes advantage of the inherently
stable temperature of the ground. Regardless of temperature
fluctuations on the surface of the ground, soil below five feet
remains at a fairly constant temperature range of 50 to 55
degrees. During the winter, this temperature can be used to
create geothermal heating for a home or building.
The mechanics of using the ground for power are exceedingly
simple. To produce heat, plastic piping loops are dug into the
ground to create a circuit for heat transfer. Depending on the
season, liquid is run through the system to exchange heat or
cold with the ground and suck up the opposite. The reconstituted
liquid is then run through a refrigerant process to produce cold
air that it circulated in the home during the hot summer. In
winter, the process runs backwards and the cold air in the home
is forced into the ground where it circulates and is
subsequently compressed. The compression warms the fluids to
well over 100 degrees, which is transformed into heat for the
home through air ducts.
An easier way to think of the above concept is to consider the
season. In the winter, the system will transfer cold air to the
ground in exchange for warm air used in your home. The opposite
occurs in summer. Regardless of the season, a geothermal pump
system can lower your energy costs by as much as 70 percent.
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Article: Using The Ground To Cut Your Utility Bill Author: Rick Chapo Publication Date: 2008-01-27 Total Views: 162 Word Count: 341 Category:Home /
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