In the United States, almost 90% of homes use traditional air conditioning. Many people don’t even know that there are other options out there.
But there are. The most intriguing and popular of these alternatives is geothermal cooling, which primarily uses a heat pump and what are called ground loops to regulate your home’s temperature. It can warm your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. This system can save you money and reduce your environmental impact, and these are just a few of the benefits. Before we get to the why, let’s look at how geothermal cooling works.
The Basics of Geothermal Cooling
Geothermal cooling is all about leveraging the ground itself for temperature regulation. Below the frost line — the maximum depth at which groundwater freezes — the earth maintains a fairly consistent temperature. In the U.S., this temperature typically sits between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Geothermal cooling systems draw on this region of the ground to heat or cool your home. To start, ground loops — a series of durable pipes that can run horizontally, vertically or even through water — are placed below or near your home. They connect back to a central heat pump inside the home itself.
Then, a mixture of water and propylene glycol is sent through the loops and the pump. This fluid transfers heat to or from its surroundings, so it can be used for both heating and cooling. In the summer, it absorbs heat from your home’s air and disperses it into the ground. In the winter, the fluid absorbs heat from the ground. Then, it trades its heat with the liquid refrigerant inside the heat pump, vaporizing it. This refrigerant is then compressed, expelling the heat into the air via a heat exchanger.
This method is called a closed-loop system. Open-loop systems work a little differently. Instead of drawing heat from the ground, they draw it from a nearby body of water, often a pond or a lake. They also utilize the water itself to absorb and transmit heat instead of the fluid we talked about before. Some geothermal systems also work with traditional HVAC systems to regulate temperatures.
Geothermal Cooling vs. Traditional Air Conditioning
While no system is perfect, geothermal cooling offers several benefits compared to traditional air conditioning systems, including:
- Up-front costs: Geothermal cooling systems are often more expensive to install than your average HVAC system, but they more than make it for it in long-term savings. The operational costs of air conditioning can be quite high, especially as they compound over time. Geothermal cooling has relatively low operational costs, however, and you might even be eligible for local, state or federal incentives as a result of your investment in renewable energy.
- Maintenance needs:Â Every heating unit requires some upkeep, and none of them last forever. Geothermal cooling systems, however, can last 10 years longer than traditional AC units since they aren’t constantly exposed to the elements. In this way, they can save time and money on both repairs and replacements.
- Space needed for installation:Â Geothermal systems primarily take up space underground, meaning they are out of sight and out of mind. AC units, however, are often placed above ground and outdoors, taking up additional space that you could otherwise be using. They also tend to generate more noise than geothermal options.
- Efficiency and performance: AC units spend a lot of time and energy changing the temperature of air they bring in from outside the home. This process can be both slow and costly, especially if energy prices in your area are high. Geothermal thermal systems don’t have to deal with this problem since they don’t need to create heat or cold at all — they simply borrow heat from the air in your home or the earth below it, saving you money and minimizing your environmental footprint.
When it comes to geothermal cooling vs. air conditioning, there is no undisputed victor. However, the long-term benefits of geothermal systems for your wallet and your environment are clear, and you should absolutely consider them before committing to one system or the other.
Advantages of Geothermal Cooling
In this section, let’s dig a little deeper into the benefits discussed above. We’ll look at the why and how of the most important points so you can make a more informed decision about the right cooling system for you.
Let’s start with energy efficiency. A central heating and air system requires more energy because it has to generate the temperature it spreads throughout your home. This generation becomes much harder in times of extreme cold and heat, as the HVAC essentially has to invert the natural temperature of the air by itself. Geothermal cooling systems win this battle by not fighting at all. Instead, they tap into the natural temperature of the ground and spread that throughout the home.
Another huge upside of geothermal systems is that they are almost completely renewable. Since they rely heavily on the earth itself to provide heat and cold, they have a significantly reduced need for energy. All they really need to power, then, is the pump itself, which requires far less electricity than an entire HVAC system. If your electricity provider uses renewable energy, your carbon footprint basically becomes zero.
Cost is another area where geothermal cooling systems excel, but you do have to be patient with them. They cost more to install than AC units do, but their reduced energy costs mean that they ultimately become cheaper the longer you have them. Renewable energy incentives, such as the Residential Clean Energy Credit, also reward you for investing in renewable energy, further lowering overall costs.
Considerations When Choosing Geothermal Cooling
You should consider some factors before going all in on a geothermal cooling system. After all, as we’ve said, no cooling system is perfect. In the case of geothermal systems, those flaws come in the form of the initial cost, their incompatibility with certain landscapes and the long-term commitment they require to produce savings.
Installing ground loops as part of a geothermal cooling system means drilling holes in the earth so the loops can reach below the frost line — typically over 6 feet down. This process, in addition to the installation of the heat pump and other infrastructure, can be quite expensive.
Some locations, however, may not be able to accommodate these loops. Certain types of soil can be difficult to drill, and groundwater, natural gas and seismic activity can make it impossible altogether. As such, it’s important to have professionals evaluate the site before doing anything else.
Another important consideration is time. It can take years for a geothermal system to pay itself off through savings, so if your future in that home is uncertain, it may not be worth the cost.
Install and Repair Geothermal Cooling Systems With GreenBox Home Services
With GreenBox Home Services, you don’t have to decide between geothermal and HVAC systems alone. Our NATE-certified professionals are here to answer your questions and install or repair the cooling system of your choice. We offer 24/7 emergency repairs and same-day installation, and we do so with honesty and expertise. Our heating and air services even won the Best of Lexington Gold award in 2023!
To learn more about our services, you can fill out our contact form or reach out at (859) 927-3246. We also offer free estimates with different options based on your budget!
