Why Is Geothermal Energy a Renewable Resource?

Installing a geothermal heat pump for your home in Wake Forest, NC or any of the surrounding areas is an excellent way not only to conserve energy and reduce your heating and cooling bills, it is also a superb way to help the environment by using renewable energy resource. But what does this actually mean, and how is it beneficial for the planet?

What is renewable energy?

A renewable energy source is any energy source that is not depleted through use. Natural gas, oil, and coal-powered electricity all consume their energy source as they are used, a limited source. But with geothermal power, the energy comes from the almost unlimited heat that the core of the Earth generates—and will continue to generate for most of the planet’s lifetime.

How a residential geothermal heat pump uses renewable energy

Think about the operation of a residential geothermal heat pump. Ground loops, buried 10 feet or deeper below the frost line, access a steady level of heat emanating from the Earth’s core. The mixture of water and anti-freeze inside the loops absorbs this heat and takes it indoors to use for heat exchange in the heat pump. Conversely, it can remove indoor heat and deposit it in the ground. Any energy is immediately replaced by the heat from the Earth’s core. You will still need to use electricity to power the indoor components of the heat pump, but at a much smaller amount than with other types of heat pumps.

Using geothermal a heat pump means you help remove dependence on burning non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil. And geothermal systems produce fewer emissions during operation. Installing a geothermal system for your home is a win for the Earth as well as win for your comfort and finances.

To find out more about installing a geothermal heat pump, call the expert at Raleigh Heating & Air, Inc.