A Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP), also known as a ground-source heat pump, is a highly efficient renewable energy technology that taps into the Earth’s thermal energy. Unlike traditional systems that heat or cool outside air, GHPs use the fact that just a few feet below the surface, the ground maintains a remarkably stable temperature (typically between 60°F and 80°F in Texas) year-round.

How it works

Heating: Fluid in the ground loop absorbs heat from the earth, moves it to the indoor heat pump, which concentrates the heat and distributes it throughout the building via ductwork or pipes.

Cooling: The process reverses, extracting heat from the building and releasing it into the cooler ground, which concentrates the cooled water in the pipes to the heat pump and distributes it throughout the building via ductwork or pipes.

The different ways you can do Geothermal HVAC

Horizontal loops involve one or more trenches HDPE pipes rated for high water pressure are inserted, and the trenches and covered. A typical home requires at minimum a quarter of an acre to do this process.

Vertical loops are used when space is tight. Holes are drilled hundreds of feet into the ground, pipes with special u-bend fittings are inserted into the holes to circulate water through the pipes.

If you have a lake or pond near your home, a pond loop can be installed. A series of coiled, closed loops are sunk to the bottom of the lake or pond. The natural cool temperature of the water acts to heat and cool.

Ground Loops

Drilling being done on a loop field to sink the pipes into the ground. The pipes are then filled with grout to hold them, some pipe is left out to connect to the supply/return pipes.

Tying in the loops to the supply and return pipes that will lead to the heat pump unit, allowing water to flow to and from the unit to heat or cool the home.

A pond loop being laid into the trench, buried, and then sunk into the pond. The pipes that are sunk into the trench lead to the heat pump unit to heat or cool.