Think Green Tip of the Week
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Life
Many are probably aware that the construction around Stone Chapel is for a new geothermal system, but what exactly does such a system involve?
Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the relatively stable temperature of the Earth's surface-which stays between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit-to heat and cool buildings.
Geothermal heat pumps have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as the most energy-efficient and environmentally clean methods of temperature control. In the winter, cooled liquid or gas circulates the geothermal pipes in the ground and absorbs the heat that, through a heat pump and air handling system, eventually warms the space.
In the summer, the reverse process occurs where heat from the building is removed and stored in the ground, and cool water is returned to the building for cooling.
Because geothermal heating is primarily powered by renewable energy, instead of fossil fuels, pollution and energy costs are minimized. Choosing geothermal heating and cooling is an ecologically sound decision that lives up to Drury's commitment to sustainability.
Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the relatively stable temperature of the Earth's surface-which stays between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit-to heat and cool buildings.
Geothermal heat pumps have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as the most energy-efficient and environmentally clean methods of temperature control. In the winter, cooled liquid or gas circulates the geothermal pipes in the ground and absorbs the heat that, through a heat pump and air handling system, eventually warms the space.
In the summer, the reverse process occurs where heat from the building is removed and stored in the ground, and cool water is returned to the building for cooling.
Because geothermal heating is primarily powered by renewable energy, instead of fossil fuels, pollution and energy costs are minimized. Choosing geothermal heating and cooling is an ecologically sound decision that lives up to Drury's commitment to sustainability.
Article last update: 3/4/08 at 7:43 PM CST
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