Heating and Cooling Homes Using Geothermal Energy in Alberta

Geothermal energy has three main uses: direct, for hot springs and other similar uses; electricity generation, for the production of electricity through the use of steam that drives turbines powering electric generators; and heat pumps, for controlling the temperature of buildings on the earth’s surface. This article focuses on heat pumps, which are used in heating and cooling homes in Alberta, Canada.

How geothermal systems heat up or cool down homes in Alberta

Geothermal heat pumps make use of the stable temperatures of the ground or of water near the earth’s exterior in controlling the hotness or coldness of buildings on the ground.

The temperature on the earth’s surface constantly changes due to several factors. Among these factors are the time of day, existing weather conditions, the region’s climate, the season of the year, and population density, to name a few. However, while the temperature above the ground is fluid, the temperature of the area from the earth’s surface up to about 10 feet below is fairly stable. It is nearly always about 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 to 16 degrees Celsius. This means that this area on the earth’s crust is cooler than the air on the earth’s surface in summer and warmer than the earth’s surface in winter.

Geothermal systems make use of this fact by transferring the ground or water’s warmth or heat into homes and other buildings during winter, and absorbing heat from these buildings during summer.

This type of heating and cooling systems is among the most environment-friendly, cost-efficient, and energy-efficient temperature control technologies there are.