A ground source heat pump is a heating and cooling system that uses the earth’s temperature to transfer thermal energy to a building. These systems on this page are an excellent choice for offices and schools as they allow building occupants to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the year. They also offer a variety of environmental benefits, including lower energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Geothermal heating and cooling

In the winter, ground source heat pumps transfer a portion of the earth’s surface and subsurface temperatures to a building for efficient heating. The same process is used during the summer to cool a building.

 

Low maintenance

While a ground source heat pump has fewer moving parts than a traditional heating system, it does require periodic servicing to ensure it is working at its best. This service can be performed by the owner, without the need for a professional engineer.

 

Longevity

A ground source heat pump will last longer than a typical combustion-based heating system. This is due to the longevity of the ground loop element that is part of the heat pump installation.

 

The ground loop is made up of underground pipes that connect to the indoor heat pump unit and to a distribution system. The loop transfers the heat from the ground and then passes it through a heat exchanger.

 

Once the heat has been transferred to the interior of the building, it is dispersed by the air ducts or in-floor tubing to provide space or domestic water heating and/or cooling. The ground loop is usually made of polyethylene pipe that carries a mixture of water and an anti-freeze substance, such as monopropylene glycol or denatured alcohol.

 

Unlike most heating systems, a ground source heat pump borehole can be combined with other forms of renewable technology or waste heat sources to further improve efficiencies and reduce costs. This can include onsite solar and wind energy for self-sufficiency or the use of a waste heat boiler to provide both hot water and heating at the same time.

 

Cost & Energy efficiency

The upfront cost of installing a ground source heat pump is higher than that of a conventional heating system, but the long-term savings can be significant. This is partly helped by government subsidies and the fact that the capital costs are offset through the savings in energy bills.

 

Benefits and Applications for GSHP

The energy savings, environmental benefits and other positive features of a GSHP system make it an ideal alternative to conventional heating and cooling. This is especially true for office buildings and schools, where occupants are typically high users, with fluctuating usage schedules and widely varying heating and cooling requirements within individual zones.

 

A GSHP system is also an attractive option for new and existing residential homes because the heat generated by the ground can be stored in shallow earth layers, providing energy for all seasons. This makes the GSHP an environmentally sound and affordable alternative to central heating or cooling with electricity.

You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here: https://www.britannica.com/technology/heat-pump.