Geothermal
Greater than 2x efficiency over traditional air source heat pumps
Geothermal (also known as ground source) heat pumps offer significant (greater than 2x) efficiency over traditional air source heat pumps. A ground source heat pump utilizes water, which is cooled by the earth in 250′-300′ deep vertical holes, to dissipate the heat generated by the compression of refrigerant. In comparison, an air source unit attempts to cool the compressor by blowing ambient outside air over it. When considering a zero energy home, geothermal is a key feature to minimize the energy load requirements.
