What is Geothermal?
'Geo' is defined as earth and 'thermal' as heat. Geothermal energy is simply a natural heat exchange dervied from the earth's crust. This heat is brought near to the surface via innate movements by the earth's crustal plates.
Utilization of geothermal energy is achieved by drilling shallow boreholes below the earth's surface. Ground loops are installed in the boreholes and natural heat is collected from the fluid circulating around these earth loops, combined with a heat pump and distribution system. The primary function of the heat pump is to transfer energy from the circulating fluid in the ground loops into the air stream. A blower then helps ciculate heated air through the ductwork in a manner similar to a conventional furnace.
Air conditioning mimics this process, in reverse. Heat is drawn from the building's air stream and then transferred from the heat pump into the ground loops where it is absorbed by the earth and stored until heat is required.
