Vertical Well Loop Field

Horizontal Trench Loop Field

Geothermal systems are used for both heating and air conditioning and provide unparalleled energy-efficiency and economy. Some geothermal systems are also designed to provide domestic hot water. Geothermal systems save 50% to 75% of the energy used by conventional heating and cooling systems while providing premium thermal comfort.

A geothermal heat pump system uses solar energy stored in the earth. At depths greater than 30 feet, the ground temperature is very stable and approximates the average annual air temperature, around 50° F. This makes the earth an ideal heat sink and a renewable thermal resource.

There are many ways of exchanging heat with the ground. The most common is a closed-loop piping system carrying a water and anti-freeze mixture. When little land is available, vertical wells are drilled between 150 to 300 feet deep. When ample land space is not a problem, horizontal trenches are excavated. Either way, once the ground loop is installed and buried, and the ground above is reclaimed, you will forget that there is a renewable resource buried beneath your feet.

GEOTHERMAL SEASONAL EFFICIENCY

The efficiency of a geothermal system depends on the entering water temperature from the ground loop field. When used for air conditioning, heat is removed from your home and is released to the relatively cooler ground. The released heat raises the temperature of the ground as high as 85° F by the end of the summer. Then, when the geothermal system is used for heating, it starts out with the benefit of this stored heat in the ground to produce phenomenal heating efficiencies based on the high entering water temperature. As the system is used for heating, heat is extracted from the ground and released to the house, which gradually cools the ground as low as 30° F by the end of the winter. Then when the system switches back to air conditioning, phenomenal cooling efficiencies are acheived based on the very cold entering water temperatures. This cycle repeats itself seasonally, resulting in average system efficiencies of 250% to 450%. That is, on the average over the course of the year, for each unit of electricity consumed, 2-1/2 to 4-1/2 times the heat or cooling is delivered to your home.

FINANCING AVAILABLE

While the energy savings on your monthly utility bills will be substantial, Geothermal heating has a releatively high cost of implementation and a long payback period. For many of our customers, financing is needed to fit the first cost of Geothermal across the payback period, therefore, Radiance provides attractive financing options through its financial partners. Some customers may qualify for unsecured loans to finance Geothermal at very reasonable interest rates with amortization periods of 15 years or more! Depending upon your situation, it is possible for Radiance to design a neutral or positive cash flow scenario based on your utility bill savings. Ask Radiance about its financing programs and we may be able to implement your total carbon solution sooner than you ever thought possible.