A geothermal loop is an efficient, reliable method for heating and cooling your home that uses the natural heat-storing ability of the earth. It's a simple concept, the earth below a certain depth (the "frost line") is a constant temperature of about 50 degrees year-round. Heat can be taken from the ground and transferred to the air in your home during the winter. Heat can also be transferred back into the ground during summer to cool your home.

The basic elements of the system include:

• Buried loops of piping (the ground loop)
• A biodegradable liquid antifreeze
• A pump module to circulate the antifreeze
• A heat pump

The loops of piping are buried in the ground and are connected to the circulating pump inside your home. The pump module circulates a mixture of water and biodegradable antifreeze through the buried pipe loops, and the liquid mixture absorbs heat from the ground as it flows through the loop. The heat pump takes heat from the liquid mixture and transfers it to the air, which is circulated in your home. To cool your home in the summer, the system simply works in reverse.

What are the Benefits?

Environmental impact
Ground-source heat is naturally renewable and non-polluting.

Energy efficiency
A geothermal heat pump can move more than three units of heat energy for every one unit of electrical energy used to power the system.

Lower operating costs
A geothermal system can cut utility bills by 40-60 percent compared to conventional heating and cooling systems.

Lower maintenance costs
All equipment is protected indoors or underground.

Single system
Geothermal equipment provides both heating and cooling in one system.

Life span
A geothermal system can have a life expectancy of up to 30 years; ground loops are often warranted for up to 50 years.

Indoor comfort
Geothermal systems eliminate the drafts common with conventional forced-air systems.

Design flexibility
Geothermal systems can be easily and inexpensively subdivided or expanded to fit building remodeling or additions.

Safety
No dangers of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Brown Heating and Air Conditioning installs GeoComfort geothermal systems. For more information on GeoComfort products, please visit http://www.geocomfort.com.

For more information on geothermal heating and cooling systems, please visit these sites: Alliant Energy Geothermal - http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium - http://www.ghpc.org
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association - http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu
Wisconsin Geothermal Association - http://www.wisgeo.org

Source: Alliant Energy GeoThermal pamphlet and http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com