Seasonal Thermal Storage & Geothermal

Hey, folks! We hope you’re being green for Halloween! There are tons of options, really. The Green Goblin. Any one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Or hey, why not be a geothermal heat pump - those are green, too . . . Okay, got a little carried away there - back to the real point of this post - seasonal thermal storage and geothermal heating and cooling.

As you know, geothermal is perhaps the most efficient heating and cooling technology out there. You’ve read it here and everywhere else. However, there are always ways that we can make our existing systems even more efficient. One way to do this is by implementing seasonal thermal storage with your geothermal heat pump. How does it work? Let’s take a look.

The image above, which we obtained from our trusty friends at Wikipedia, shows a geothermal heat pump system working in conjunction with seasonal heat and cold storage. In the summer, when the home is being cooled, the water in the subterranean aquifers begins to rise in temperature. The aquifers retain this heat into winter, when it is used in combination with the geothermal heat pump to heat the home. For homeowners with smaller heat pump installations, another option is installing water-filled solar collectors. These essentially facilitate the same kind of system, but are cheaper and can be installed with existing heat pumps.

Obviously, it’s an additional expense, but it’s definitely something worth considering! Ask your contractor about it the next time you have a friendly chat. That’s all for now, ladies and gents. Have a happy, safe Halloween! We’ll see you on the other side!