Geothermal North Carolina Geothermal Raleigh, NC The Basics of Geothermal Heating and Cooling, by Tom Paonessa.

2. What is GeoThermal Technology?
 Uses Earth’s Renewable Energy Just Below the Surface
to Heat and Cool and Provide Domestic Hot Water
“Most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective
systems available today” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” (EPA)

3. How Does GeoThermal Work?
 Just Below Earth’s Surface, Temperature Remains Fairly Constant Year-
Round
 Water Circulating Through Pipes Buried in the Ground Absorbs Heat
in Winter and Carries “Home” Where Heat Pump Transfers to Interior
Space for Warmth
 In Summer, Process is Reversed and Heat is Extracted from the Air and
Transferred Through Heat Pump to the Ground Loop Piping
 Only a Small Amount of Energy Required to Operate Heat Pump,
Ground Loop Pump and Distribution Fan or Pump

4. Is GeoThermal New?
 Technology Around Over 50 Years
 Significant Recent Improvements in Materials,
Systems and Efficiencies of Pumps and Compressors

5. What Are Major Benefits?
 Lower Utility Bills (25% to 70%)
 Reduced Maintenance
 Higher Levels of Comfort Year Round
 Environmental Conservation
 No Fossil Fuel Burned
 Less Greenhouse Gas Emissions
 Eliminates Potential Source of Poisonous Carbon Monoxide

6. How Popular is GeoThermal?
 Over One Million Installations in US Today
 Rapidly Growing As More Learn About The
Technology and Its’ Benefits

7. Where is GeoThermal Used?
 Schools
 Estimated $25M Savings Across US
 Commercial Enterprises
 Factories
 Retail Stores
 Office Buildings
 Homes

8. Does GeoThermal Cost More?
 Depends on How You Measure Cost
 GeoThermal May Cost More Due To Ground Loop Piping
HOWEVER……
 GeoThermal Systems Have Lowest Life-Cycle Cost
 Typical 2,000sq ft home as low as $1 a day
 Installation Costs Declining as More Builders & Contractors Offer Option
 As Industry Develops Innovative Ways To Install Systems Faster & More
Efficiently Costs Are Declining
 Rebates Offered
 State and Federal Tax Credits

9. Who Can I Hire To Install My GeoThermal
System?
 Proper Design & Installation of GeoThermal
Systems is Key
 Ensure Installer is IGSHPA (“International Ground
Source Heat Pump Association”) Certified
 Check References
 Ask How Many Installations Completed

10. What is a De-Superheater?
A desuperheater is a secondary heat exchanger that
transfers heat from the earth in the winter and from your
home in the summer, into your domestic hot water tank.
The desuperheater is part of the geothermal heat pump's
domestic hot water generating system (HWG).
 Hot water generators only heat domestic water when your
geothermal heat pump is heating or cooling your home.
The hot water generator's water circulating pump moves
the cold water from the bottom of your hot water tank
through a water pipe to the desuperheater itself, where the
water is heated by the heat that has been transferred from
the earth when you are heating your home, and from the
inside of your home when you are cooling your home. The
heated water is then circulated back into your hot water
tank.

11. What is a De-Superheater?
 Heating water with a geothermal heat pump's hot water
generator costs about 80 percent less in a heating
dominated climate, and up to 95 percent less in a cooling
dominated climate, than if you heat your domestic water
with electric, oil, or propane fired hot water heater. At the
present cost of natural gas the savings is about 15 percent
less - not as drastic a savings as the others, but saving on
your bills is still saving on your bills!
 In the summer heating your domestic water is “almost”
free. This is because the heat that is being removed from
your home is transferred into your hot water tank. Since
this heat from inside of your home was going to be rejected
(thrown away) into the earth anyway, putting it into your
hot water tank instead is free. The only cost for the summer
water heating is the small cost of running the circulating
pump that moves the water.