The heat that rises from the earth’s interior is known as geothermal energy. It can be found as deep as the hot, molten rock, or magma, that makes up the earth’s crust in the rocks and fluids there.
In the present scenario, to generate electricity or use it for heating and cooling homes/office is very essential. With this in mind, people always try to find a reliable source of energy that can save our time and money. So here comes geothermal energy as an alternative to other sources of power generation.
This type of energy is generated by the earth’s thermal activity. It is also called as ground source heat pump due to its similarity with solar panel. In simple words, it uses hot rocks from deep underground to produce heat which then gets transferred into water and generates steam which is used to drive turbine to generate electricity. This energy is renewable and non-polluting because it doesn’t require any fuel for the conversion process.
So, what are the benefits of using maaküte (geothermal energy) as opposed to other methods? Let’s have a look at them one by one.
Benefits of Using Geothermal Heat Pumps
1) No Fuel Needed
Geothermal heat pump doesn’t use fuel such as natural gas, oil, coal or wood. Instead, it uses the heat from the earth to produce electricity.
2) Renewable Source
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source since it requires no fuel but only the heat from the earth.
3) No Pollution
As stated earlier, geothermal energy doesn’t pollute the environment. The reason behind this is that the earth has enough amount of heat stored inside it. Hence, there is no need to burn any fuel like coal or oil.
4) Economical
Due to lack of pollution, this energy is much cheaper than other fossil fuels. Also, by using the heat from the earth, you won’t be required to buy additional fuel to get heated up.
5) Low Maintenance
Since you don’t require any fuel to generate this energy, you don’t need to change the system regularly. Also, the installation process of this device is quite easy so that anyone can do it.
6) Environment Friendly
Due to its ability to reduce CO2 emission, geothermal energy is considered to be eco-friendly too.
7) Easy Installation
Unlike many other systems that require some technical skills to install, geothermal heat pumps are quite easy to install. You just need to dig a hole and install the pipe underneath it. If you want to know how to install geothermal heat pump, visit our blog on best tips to install geothermal heat pump.
8) Long Lifespan
Once you install these devices, they will work for long. They can last up to 30 years if properly maintained.
9) Easy to Use
These devices are easy to use and provide comfortable temperature control. However, if you’re not comfortable with it, there are several types of thermostats available that can help you control the temperature inside your home.
10) Safe
Being safe is important when it comes to using geothermal energy. There is no risk of fire or explosion while generating heat. And, if you are installing it yourself, you don’t need to worry about it either.
11) Eco-Friendly
The most eco-friendly thing about geothermal energy is that you don’t need to buy new fuel after every few months. Moreover, by reducing fuel consumption, you are helping the environment by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere.
12) Affordable
Geothermal heat pumps aren’t very expensive. Usually, you can expect to spend around $15K to $20K on purchasing one. But, if you live in the cold regions where heating costs a lot, then you may face problems.
13) High Efficiency
The efficiency of geothermal heat pumps is very high. Most of them can reach 90% efficiency level. And, even though they consume more electricity, they provide higher level of comfort than traditional heating methods.
14) Easy Installation
The installation process is quite easy. All you have to do is to install a pipe and let it go under the ground. Once you finish installing it, you need to wait for few weeks before you start using it.
Now that you know all the advantages offered by geothermal energy, let us see how it works.
How Geothermal Heat Pump Works?
Once the water is pumped through the pipes, the heat from the rock will melt the ice and convert it into steam. Then, the steam passes through the turbine to generate electricity.
The following diagram illustrates the working principle of geothermal heat pump.
As you can see, the heat from the earth passes through the pipes and melts the ice inside the container. This steam is then converted into another form of energy i.e. electricity. Now, you’ll be wondering how does geothermal heat pump compare with other types of heat pump? Well, here are some points that make geothermal heat pump different from other types of heat pumps.
First of all, the difference between a ground source heat pump and other types of heat pump is that the former collects the heat from the earth and transfers it to the water. On the other hand, the latter uses outside air to transfer heat.
Secondly, unlike a conventional heat pump, a ground source heat pump doesn’t require any ducts to move the heat from the source to the sink. Therefore, it saves space and reduces the cost of installation.
Thirdly, the heat collection area of a ground source heat pump is much larger than other types of heat pumps. Thus, it provides more efficient performance.
Fourthly, a ground source heat pump produces less noise compared to those that run with outside air.
Fifthly, a ground source heat pump requires less maintenance due to its simplicity.
Lastly, a geothermal heat pump can save you up to 50% of your electricity bill.
So, now that you know everything there is to know about geothermal heat pumps, you should consider getting one installed in your home. By doing so, you can enjoy a clean and affordable way of heating your home.
