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FAQ
What is geothermal technology?
Can geothermal technology work at different scales? Will it work as well on a small house as it does on a large apartment building or commercial property?
Is Geothermal Dependable?
Will I be left in the cold if my Zerofootprint Energy system breaks down in winter?
What makes a geothermal system different from conventional heating and cooling systems?
How noisy is the geothermal system unit?
How safe are geothermal system units?
How much comfort do geothermal systems provide?
Do geothermal systems require maintenance?
Will the underground loop affect my lawn or garden? Can I still use the ground above where the loop is buried?
What are the environmental advantages of geothermal energy?
Is geothermal a 'green' technology?
Is geothermal used primarily in homes?
How does the geothermal system extract heat from frozen soil?
Are geothermal contractors certified?
How does Zerofootprint Energy contribute to creating sustainable economies?
What is geothermal technology?
Earth energy, also called geothermal, geoexchange, or ground source heat pumps, is a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly heating, cooling and hot water technology. Geothermal technology uses the earth's renewable, thermal energy to heat and cool homes and buildings. It is also used to provide hot water.
Can geothermal technology work at different scales? Will it work as well on a small house as it does on a large apartment building or commercial property?
Yes. In Ontario, there are a number of houses that use geothermal energy. In fact, the entire campus of the University of Ontario Institute on Technology is heated and cooled by a geothermal system. As geothermal heat pumps are manufactured in many sizes, there are no scale limitations and this equipment can work just as easily in an individual condominium unit as it can in a large-scale commercial development.
Is Geothermal Dependable?
Yes. The technology requires very little maintenance and, according to industry associations, geothermal units often last 20-25 years. The underground piping system lasts even longer, usually in excess of 50-100 years.
Will I be left in the cold if my Zerofootprint Energy system breaks down in winter?
No. All of Zerofootprint Energy’s systems come with a complete parts and labour warranty. With warranty service providers all over North America, a broken furnace can be repaired or replaced quickly and easily.
What makes a geothermal system different from conventional heating and cooling systems?
Most space heating and water heating in the United States occurs through the combustion of natural gas, oil or propane, or by electric resistance, while most cooling is provided by electric air conditioning. A geothermal system does not use combustion to make heat; it simply transfers heat from the ground at a very high efficiency. This lack of combustion makes a geothermal system the best choice from both an environmental and safety standpoint.
How noisy is the geothermal system unit?
Geothermal systems are very quiet, minimizing excess noise. Their lack of loud mechanisms, such as fan units, creates a virtually noise-free environment in any setting.
How safe are geothermal system units?
Geothermal systems are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children and pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units. As well, geothermal systems do not require open flames, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.
How much comfort do geothermal systems provide?
A geothermal system moves warm air throughout a building using standard ductwork. It achieves a comfortable temperature by distributing the warm air in the system gradually. This eliminates the sudden bursts of hot and cold air that often occur with a conventional system, making your home or work space a more agreeable environment.
Geothermal systems can also deliver heat through hot water distribution systems, including radiant floor heating.
Do geothermal systems require maintenance?
No. Geothermal systems are practically maintenance free. When installed correctly, the buried loop will last for generations. The rest of the system, specifically the fan and compressor that makes up the unit, are indoors and protected from harsh weather conditions. Periodic checks and filter changes are usually the only required maintenance.
Will the underground loop affect my lawn or garden? Can I still use the ground above where the loop is buried?
The pipes are only 1-2 inches in diameter, and are buried at least 6 feet underground. After the pipes are buried, the land above the pipes can be used for lawns, gardens, driveways or anything else without affecting the pipes buried below.
What are the environmental advantages of geothermal energy?
According to data supplied by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical 3-ton residential geothermal system produces an average of one imperial pound less of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide per hour of use than a conventional system. To put that in perspective, if just 100,000 homes converted to geothermal, the United States could reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 880,000,000 lb. That would be the equivalent of converting about 58,700 cars to zero-emission vehicles or planting more than 120,000 acres of trees.
In addition, the waste heat removed from a home's interior during the cooling season can be used to provide virtually free hot water and can result in 30% of additional savings annually and even lower emissions.
Is geothermal a 'green' technology?
Geothermal systems are classified as a 'renewable' energy, meaning that they operate without destroying finite natural resources. In practice, geothermal is usually paired with conventional electricity generation, which uses some fossil fuel (though up to 80% less than a conventional system) to run system heat pumps.
To be 100% renewable one can purchase green power or install solar panels or a wind turbine to run the geothermal pump.
Is geothermal used primarily in homes?
While many homes have been fitted with geothermal systems, commercial enterprises, including factories, retail stores, office buildings and schools are the biggest users of geothermal energy. In fact, there are more than half a million commercial and residential installations in North America alone.
In the United States schools have been a particularly amenable to employing this technology. Across the continent, schools using geothermal right now are saving an estimated $65,000,000 in energy costs, money which can go towards better educational equipment and more teachers. These schools also prevent half-billion pounds of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere each year.
If we made the same advances in all commercial and residential segments in the United States, the environmental benefit would be staggering.
How does the geothermal system extract heat from frozen soil?
The loop is buried below the frost line. Insulation is used to protect any of the sections that rise above the frost line (for example, where the pipe enters the building) to avoid freezing in winter.
Are geothermal contractors certified?
A number of manufacturers of geothermal units offer training for authorized contractors that utilize their brand. In addition, there are programs offered by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association and the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium in the United States. There are also multiple related certifications that can be obtained, which demonstrate knowledge in the area like heat loss analysis and ductwork installation.
How does Zerofootprint Energy contribute to creating sustainable economies?
Zerofootprint Energy is a social enterprise dedicated to improving the environmental performance of energy systems. Zerofootprint, the parent company of Zerofootprint Energy, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable green markets worldwide. A large portion of Zerofootprint Energy’s income goes directly to supporting the not-for-profit endeavors of its parent company. Both entities strive to provide information, products and services to the global network of consumers and businesses who wish to reduce their environmental impact.