What is GeoExchange | GeoThermal facts

Going green is America’s way of reaching out to provide a safer, more efficient environment.  Thompson Well can provide geothermal exchange systems known as Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems to harness the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the earth.   GSHP is a durable, low-maintenance, economical and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional heating and air-conditioning.

We are an International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) Accredited Installer and have the ability to offer the only qualified renewal energy system available today.  These systems are perfect for homes, apartment complexes, businesses, schools, and more.   In addition to heating and cooling, GSHPs also create free hot water in the summer and deliver substantial hot water savings in the winter.

What is a GeoExchange Unit and how does it operate?

A GeoExchange unit is a heating and cooling system that provides heat in winter and cooling in summer more efficiently than other alternative systems. Operating like a conventional heat pump, a GeoExchange unit is essentially an air conditioner that can also run in reverse to provide heat in the winter.  The main difference is that it relies on the nearly constant temperature of the ground or ground water for heat transfer instead of the continually fluctuating temperature of the outside air.   As a result, a GeoExchange unit saves energy, cuts electric bills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and offers lower maintenance and lower hot water coststhan the conventional heating and cooling systems.

A GeoExchange unit simply transfers thermal energy (heat) from the ground or ground water into the space being conditioned during the winter months and transfers excess heat from the structure back into the ground or ground water in the summer months. Because the temperature of the ground or ground water remains fairly constant throughout the year—ranging from about 45-50 degrees F in northern latitudes to 70-80 degrees F in the Deep South—operating efficiencies are high year-round.

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GeoThermal Facts:

The typical GeoExchange system consists of three main parts:

1. The air handling system (fan and ductwork) that distributes air within the spaces being heated or cooled
2. The ground or ground water heat exchanger that absorbs heat from the earth or discharges heat to the earth
3. A reversible refrigerant loop that transfers heat between the air handling system and the ground or ground water heat exchanger.

The GeoThermal exchange systems use mainly four types of refrigerant loop systems:

1. Horizontal Ground Closed Loops, usually the most cost effective when yard space is adequate.
2. Vertical Ground Closed Loops are idea for homes or buildings where yard space is insufficient, or there is a desire for minimum disruption of landscaping.
3. Pond Closed Loops, are used if a body of surface water is near, like a pond or lake, this can be the most economical loop system.
4. Open Loop System, is not used frequently unless ground water is plentiful, and is the simplest to install and have been used for many decades where local codes will permit.

Links for reference:  To understand what is a GeoThermal Systems see the links
below.www.igshpa.okstate.edu / What is GeoThermal?