Geothermal systems provide heating and cooling to homes and other structures by tapping into the relative stability of underground temperatures. Capturing heat from the ground in the winter and disposing of unwanted heat in the summer, the systems are remarkably energy efficient, requiring neither the burning of fuels like standard furnaces nor the intense electrical use of conventional air conditioners.

In fact, when it comes to providing exceptional heating and cooling, geothermal systems are up to 70 percent more efficient than traditional furnaces and up to 40 percent more efficient than typical air conditioners. This efficiency translates directly to the wallets of homeowners with geothermal systems. While the initial costs of such systems are higher, owners can immediately enjoy positive cash flow on financed systems and recoup their total investments in as few as four years.

Geothermal systems are also highly comfortable, distributing heating and cooling more evenly than traditional approaches. They are robust and long-lasting as well, with none of the system equipment exposed to the elements. Geothermal systems are also whisper quiet, lacking the loud outside blow fan required by standard air conditioners.

Also known as ground source heat pumps and geoexchange systems, modern geothermal systems use a closed-system pipe loop that runs out of the home and into the ground and back again, with the same environmentally safe antifreeze solution flowing through the pipes indefinitely. To maximize contact with the earth in a limited underground space, the pipe loop typically follows a zigzag pattern.

Because underground temperatures below five feet are relatively stable, averaging about 55 degrees, geothermal systems are able to extract heat from the ground even in most extreme cold weather. As a result of the same temperature stability, the systems can also provide excellent cooling on even the hottest days.

At a time of surging energy prices and rising environmental concerns about energy use and generation, geothermal systems are the perfect solution. They are both efficient and effective, saving homeowners money and reducing overall energy usage while providing unmatched comfort. They have been endorsed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Energy, and the California Energy Commission.

For more on geothermal solutions, which are also called ground source heat pumps and geoexchange systems, visit:
www.geoexchange.org/about/what.htm
www.igshpa.okstate.edu/geothermal/faq.htm
www.waterfurnace.com