Geothermal System Diagram

Hello and welcome to the Atlanta Geothermal Energy Solutions website.

While our parent company is based out of Atlanta Georgia, this website is for anyone that is looking to learn more about geothermal heating and cooling in general. To get started lets go over how the geothermal systems work.

Are you interested in speaking with an expert on Geothermal Energy for your Atlanta residential or commercial property? Contact Georgia Air Contractors.

Below the surface of the earth the temperature stays pretty constant. A geothermal system utilizes this resource which provides a cool and a heating system that is very efficient.

The geothermal system uses fluid traveling through tubes in the ground to transfers heat either in or out of your home.

When it is cool out like it is in December – March in Atlanta, the fluid carries heat from the ground allowing the heat pump to concentrate that energy and heat your home.

What benefits are there to the owners of a geothermal system in Atlanta where it is hot? A geothermal systems heat pump transfers the heat from the air to the fluid and into the ground. This ‘waste’ heat can also be used to provide the owner with practically free hot water, lowering your energy costs even more.

Geothermal system owners end up with utility bills that are anywhere from 25 to 75 percent lower than those with standard heating and cooling systems, and with fewer overall working parts, lower maintenance cost as well. To top that off we can not leave out the satisfaction of being environmentally friendly by helping to preserve our Earth.

Think about this, the standard residential geothermal system uses around a pound less C02 per hour than a conventional system.  To give you some idea of what that means in the long run, over a 20 year time span that is about the same as playing 120,000 acres of trees or converting almost 60 thousand cars to be produce zero emissions. That is a HUGE help to the environment.

If you live in and would like to know more about Atlanta geothermal energy solutions for your home or business, Contact us today.

Geothermal Energy Solution

Fuel consumption may be mitigated through teleworking, carpooling, and taking public transportation (this is Atlanta we’re talking about!), but these options are not always as convenient as driving yourself. So while you’re waiting for the technology for hybrids and other alternative-fuel cars to improve, why not consider using an Atlanta geothermal energy solution to heat and cool your home?

Although there are several geothermal energy solutions in Atlanta, Georgia Air Contractors (GAC)—one of Atlanta’s geothermal, heating, and air conditioning service providers—has been controlling indoor climates and keeping Atlanta residents comfortable for over 25 years.

You may be wondering what is geothermal energy and how does it work. In technical terms:

Geothermal power comes from heat naturally stored in the earth, heat which comes from the planet’s initial formation, from the radioactive decay of minerals, and energy from the Sun passed through the earth’s surface.

That’s quite a mouthful, huh? Not to worry. To put it a bit more simply, geothermal energy comes from heat trapped below the earth’s surface, and it has been around for a very long time. Ancient cultures in places such as China, France, and Rome used geothermal energy in the form of hot springs for their public bathhouses. It has since been applied in various uses, and after first appearing in industrial applications in the late 19th century, it has been successfully used to heat and cool homes and other buildings for the last fifty years.

Unfortunately, geothermal energy still comprises a small portion of the human population’s energy production, but that number continues to rise with each passing year as more and more countries adopt some form of geothermal technology. This is a promising development; the benefits to geothermal energy far outweigh the risks.

There are several benefits to using a geothermal energy solution instead of a standard electric or natural gas unit. First, because geothermal energy is derived largely from the sun, it is constantly being renewed—making it one of the few reliable and sustainable energy options available for commercial business and private home use.

Next, geothermal energy is much more cost-effective than other forms of energy, and although the initial investment may be more than a traditional furnace or air-conditioning unit, it is still worthwhile as it will eventually pay for itself. The technology continues to improve. and new and cheaper ways to install geothermal units are being applied all the time.

Lastly and most importantly, geothermal energy solutions are far cleaner than traditional fossil fuels. According to Geoexchange.org, “over a…20-year lifespan, 100,000 units of nominally sized residential GeoExchange systems will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 1.1 million metric tons of carbon equivalents. That would be the equivalent of converting about 58,700 cars to zero-emission vehicles, or planting more than 120,000 acres of trees.” It seems like a no-brainer.

Geothermal power, a renewable and sustainable power source, comes from heat trapped in the earth, making it a green energy solution. Because it’s so much cleaner than traditional climate-controlling units, it’s especially worthwhile for Atlanta residents to consider installing a geothermal energy solution in their homes. If we can’t cut down on our automobile fuel consumption, shouldn’t we Atlantans try to cut down on our fuel consumption wherever else we can?

Questions about geothermal energy? Atlanta Geothermal is here to help. Please Contact us.

Not only is geothermal energy totally sustainable, it is also much more cost-effective than fossil fuel options and will eventually pay for itself over time. Granted, there are some risks to using geothermal energy, and the initial cost of installing a geothermal energy solution can be prohibitive for some households, but assuming you can afford to install a geothermal energy solution, there are many advantages to using geothermal energy as opposed to fossil fuels or other green energy solutions.

Go Green with Geothermal Energy

Go Green With Geothermal

As already mentioned, geothermal energy is completely sustainable, making it one of the most practical green energy solutions available to both private citizens and commercial businesses.

Because geothermal energy comes from heat generated by the natural decay of radioactive elements in the earth’s crust as well as the heat given off by the sun, it is impossible to deplete it—unlike traditional fossil fuel energy sources such as coal and oil. Also, since you are not burning those types of fuel, you greatly reduce the emissions of dangerous gases into the atmosphere.

Living in Atlanta generally means driving your car everywhere. If you can help it, shouldn’t you try to reduce wherever else you can?

Save Green with Geothermal Energy

Next, although there can be a sizable initial investment in the equipment needed to capture geothermal energy, it is overall much cheaper to use than fossil fuel equivalents.

Because geothermal energy can be captured from anywhere, the transportation costs are eliminated. Geothermal pumps and power plants require less space than other energy options, further mitigating their cost. Instead of having to rely on risky offshore drilling or other countries, the sun and the earth’s crust provide the heat required to create the electricity to power homes and businesses.

Saving the planet may only matter to some people. Saving money is important to everyone.

Drawbacks to Geothermal Energy

Lastly, there are a few drawbacks that come with using geothermal energy, and Atlanta Geothermal would be remiss in not informing its readers about some of them.

The labor costs of drilling and laying the piping necessary for geothermal energy generally prevent private consumers from seriously considering it as a viable energy solution. If you plan to stay in that particular home for several years, you may want to think about it, though. You will save significantly on your yearly energy bills.

There have been a couple reports of seismic activity (i.e., small earthquakes) occurring as a result of the initial drilling for geothermal power plants. Because not as much energy is required to power a home, the likelihood of seismic activity as a result of residential geothermal pumps is negligible.

Although there are a few disadvantages, the advantages geothermal provides over  comparable energy options make it a practical energy solution for Atlanta citizens in residential and commercial areas alike. The financial savings over time outweigh the potentially hefty upfront costs—not to mention the service you will be doing to the earth by reducing the emission of dangerous gases into the atmosphere. In a city like Atlanta, anything we can do to reduce our carbon footprints and emissions is worth it.

If you have any other questions about what is geothermal energy or why you should use it, please Contact Atlanta Geothermal today. We would love to hear from you.

Before you decide to go with one geothermal energy source over another, make sure you have all the facts about them. Luckily, Atlanta Geothermal has already done the research for you and has found that there are three main sources of geothermal energy: horizontal loops, vertical loops, and pond/lake loops.

After you’ve finished reading this article, you should have a better idea which solution will work best for you.

Horizontal Loops

Geothermal Horizontal Loop

A horizontal loop system is typically the most cost effective geothermal energy solution—assuming that there is sufficient yardspace. Licensed professionals use heavy equipment like backhoes and trenchers to carve trenches about three to six feet below the ground. They then drop in a set of plastic pipes into the trenches before refilling them, ensuring that no debris causes damage or punctures the pipes. Fluid then circulates through the pipes in a closed system, and most horizontal loops are around 500 feet long for each ton of heating and cooling.

Vertical Loops

Vertical loop systems are used when yardspace is limited or when you want to disrupt your existing landscape as little as possible. As the name suggests, vertical loop systems involve a work crew digging a holes ranging in 150-400 feet in depth, and placing a U-shaped pipe in the hole. This pipe is then connected to another pipe that runs horizontally and carries the fluid to and from the indoor exchange unit. Although vertical loops systems require less piping and yardspace, they are generally more expensive to install than horizontal loop systems.

Pond/Lake Loops

Geothermal Pond Loop

Obviously, this geothermal energy solution requires that the building be located near a body of water, as in a pond or lake. Liquid circulates under the water in a closed system pipe system (which can be coiled to preserve space). Because the system is closed, it does not impact the environment as a result of generating energy. If you live near a lake or a pond, then you may want to consider building a geothermal energy solution.

Other Geothermal Energy Sources

There are a few other geothermal energy solutions that are not used as widely as those already discussed. Among them are the open loop and standing column well systems. You can read more about both of these options at the GeoExchange.

Now that you have learned a little bit more about the four different sources of geothermal energy, we at Atlanta Geothermal hope you can make an informed decision whenever you are choosing a geothermal energy solution for your home. It can be a tough call, but don’t worry.

If you have any other questions about which geothermal energy source will work best for your home or business, please Contact Atlanta Geothermal.