Geothermal – ground source heating –

A geothermal heat pump or ground source heat pump is a central heating/cooling system that transfers heat to and from the ground. It uses the earth as a heat source in the winter and as a heat sink in the summer, relying on the moderate temperatures in the ground to boost efficiency and reduce operating costs. These systems transfer heat to and from the earth using a closed loop system of buried PE pipe. These pipes typically contain a water solution and thermal energy from the earth is passed into the fluid. The temperature is then increased or decreased by passing it through a heat pump. Small diameter plastic pipes are buried in the ground as they are flexible and easier to install than other materials.