Geothermal systems work by using the temperature of the Earth to heat and cool your home. The beauty of the system is that, just below the Earth’s surface, the temperature of the ground remains a constant, cool temperature all year round. The trick is to use this temperature to heat and cool your home, drastically decreasing your yearly energy costs.
The process is fairly simple in theory, but becomes complicated in application. When in cooling mode, the heat is pumped into the ground and is naturally cooled by the Earth’s resting temperature of 55-60 degrees. This cooled air is then returned to the home and pumped throughout, effectively lowering the temperature inside. When in heating mode, however, the naturally occurring temperature is pumped into a refrigerant, which is then pushed through an area of extreme pressure, raising the temperature of the air to almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
These systems can also be hooked up to your water heater, effectively heating and cooling your water. This system doesn’t work as quickly as it does for heating and cooling your home, however, so it’s still required that you have a boiler installed. However, you can average about 2-3 months a year in which you are not paying to heat your water at all.
Geothermal Heating & Cooling Systems in New York can reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 70%. From Oct 31, 2008 until Dec 31, 2016 there is a $2,000 tax credit for installing these systems in your home. In addition, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in NYSERDA incentives. To find out more about how these systems work watch the video below.