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All of your heating and cooling energy needs can be potentially found in your own backyard!

The seasons change creating a fluctuating temperature outside and inside your home.  In contrast, Heat energy from the sun is absorbed by the earth at a rate of 47%, causing the ground under the earth’s surface to maintain a constant temperature all year long.  An efficient geothermal system circulates a water-based solution through loops buried four to six feet under the earth’s surface where the temperature is stable.  This system has the ability to provide hot and cold air as well as some hot water to your home, eliminating anywhere from 30 to 70% of your monthly utility bills.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling Works on 3 Basic Principles

1. The top level of the earth’s surface maintains a relatively moderate temperature all year long.
2. During cold months the system takes the relatively warmer temperature from the earth and uses it as heat for your home
3. During hot months it replaces the hot air in your home with cool air from the earth.

Geothermal Heating

The system begins by circulating water through the earth loop where it absorbs heat energy from the earth. The now warm water is then sent to the heat exchanger where refrigerant absorbs the heat from the water.  The now cold water returns to the earth loop to pick up more heat energy. 

The heat energy picked up by the heat exchanger is now in the form of refrigerant gas and travels from the heat exchanger to the compressor.  In the compressor the temperature rises to 160 degrees. The now superheated refrigerant gas travels to the heat exchanger where the heat pump’s blower circulates the air across an air coil. This increases the temperature of the air which is then blown through ductwork and circulated through the home in the form of hot air. After the refrigerant has released the heat energy, it flows back to the earth loop exchanger to start the process again.

Geothermal Cooling

The system for cooling works much in the same way. The water circulating in the earth loop is warmer than the surrounding ground causing the water to release energy and become cool.  It flows to the heat exchanger inside the heat pump. There the compressor releases heat energy into the water and the water returns to the ground. 

The refrigerant inside the compressor that just released the heat energy is now a cold liquid and travels to the heat exchanger.  Here the heat pump’s blower circulates warm, humid air from the home across the cold air coil. This process creates cold air which is then sent throughout the home.  The refrigerant in the air coil picks up the heat from the air, takes it to the compressor and than to the earth loop heat exchanger to start the process over again.

Solar Hot Water

Solar hot water heaters are so energy friendly that they could potentially save the United States millions of barrels of oil every year.  They not only help save the planet by greatly reducing the energy we use but they save you money. That’s why there has never been a better time to switch.

There are two main types of solar hot water systems, Active and Passive.

Active Solar Technology

Active Solar Technology uses some electrical or fuel-driven mechanical equipment in order to perform some of its necessary functions.  Some examples would include systems which use:

• Electrical pumps to move heated water
• Motors to allow photovoltaic arrays to track the sun’s movement throughout the day in order to maximize the amount of solar energy being captured
• Grid-tied solar electrical systems which rely on electricity as a backup source

Passive Solar Technology

Passive Solar Technology does not use any additional mechanical or electrical devices to deliver heat or electrical energy.  Solar water heating is traditionally a passive solar application and has the potential to provide enough hot water for all home washing and bathing needs.  Most often, a passive solar hot water system includes a collector tank located on a south or west facing wall or roof, and a plumbing system that delivers the water to different parts of the home using gravity.

If you would like to learn more about Geothermal Heating and Cooling and/or about Solar Hot Water Systems

Call Wickstrom Service Co. at (208) 466-9447