They have been recognized in recent analyses as the lowest lifecycle cost technology and the lowest emitter of greenhouse gases that are linked with global warming and climate change. The Earth s natural heat is collected in winter through a series of pipes, called a loop, installed below the surface of the ground or submersed in a pond or lake. Fluid circulating in the loop carries this heat to the home. In typical systems, duct fans distribute the heat to various rooms. In summer, the process is reversed in order to cool the home.
Excess heat is drawn from the home, expelled to the loop, and absorbed by the Earth.
GeoExchange systems provide cooling in the same way that a refrigerator keeps its contents cool - by drawing heat from the interior, not by injecting cold air. John Ballman, Aurora, Colorado homeowner and user of a geothermal heat pump heated and cooled house, uses a closed loop ground horizontal installed heat exchanger. Since its creation in 1994, the GHPC has been instrumental in increasing the sale of ground-coupled heat pumps in that country by 20 percent each year, and the consortium has developed a number of initiatives to support marketing issues that boost the competitiveness and build public confidence in the technology. The technology suffers from a lack of awareness of its benefits, partly due to the use of differing terms around the world, such as GeoExchange, earth energy, space conditioners, geothermal and ground-source heat pumps. Natural Resources Canada wants to accelerate the adoption of systems for heating and cooling in buildings, and recently identified the technology as a priority under a federal renewable energy incentive.