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How does a geothermal heat pump heat a building?
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geothermal energy
The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant, Iceland.
A geothermal heat pump (GHP) heats a building by leveraging the relatively stable, moderate temperature of the Earth, which remains between 10 and 16 °C (50 to 60 °F) within the first few meters of the surface.12
The system consists of a heat exchangerâa loop of pipes buried in the groundâa pump, and a distribution system, such as conventional ductwork. The process functions as follows:2
- Heat Exchange: A fluid, typically water or a mixture of water and antifreeze, circulates through the buried pipes.2
- Energy Transfer: During colder months, when the air temperature drops below that of the ground, the fluid absorbs heat energy stored in the relatively warm soil or groundwater.2
- Heating: This warmed fluid is pumped to the heat pump unit, which transfers the energy to the air inside the building.2
Because GHPs move existing heat rather than generating it through combustion, they are highly efficient, using 25â50 percent less electricity than conventional heating systems.12