Heat Pumps

Geothermal

Heat pumps give homeowners the widest choice for customizing home heating and cooling to achieve year-round comfort, higher efficiency and lower operating costs. The electric heat pump combines energy efficiency with a lifetime of clean, convenient and safe comfort.

Studies by KCP&L confirm that heat pumps can save money and conserve natural resources while providing true comfort throughout every season.

Types of systems:

Efficient heating and cooling
    Geothermal systems, also called "ground-source" heat pumps, operate much like air-source systems. They're more efficient, though, because ground temperatures remain between 55 and 60 degrees farenheit. The systems seldom require auxiliary heat, so they operate more efficiently than air-source models.

    In the winter water circulates through a closed ground loop, absorbing the Earth's heat and transferring it to your home. In the summer, the system reverses its operation to remove heat from your home and transfer it to the ground loop and, in turn, back to the Earth.

    Studies show that geothermal systems:
    • provide the highest possible cost savings to home owners
    • save up to 50 percent or more on heating and cooling bills
    • are three to four times more efficient than your conventional system

    Although a geothermal system costs more than a conventional system, studies show that the savings in energy costs pay back the difference in six to eight years.

"Desuperheater" heat exchangers for free hot water

    Many geothermal heat pumps incorporate a "Desuperheater" that can provide almost 75% of your family's hot water needs - virtually free. A desuperheater is a small auxiliary heat exchanger that uses superheated gases from the unit's compressor to heat water. When the compressor runs, hot water is automatically circulated to your home's water heater tank.

Vertical or horizontal ground coils

      Geothermal systems use either vertical or horizontal ground coils. Both heat exchanger systems operate the same way, circulating a fixed supply of water through a closed loop of plastic pipe to gather and transfer heat. System selection may depend on the amount of land space available and the locations of other features on the lot.

      For example, vertical ground-coil systems work best on small lots or lots where the terrain prohibits a horizontal system. Reliable plastic polyethylene pipe is buried vertically in holes bored from 150' to 200' deep.

      For horizontal ground-coil systems, plastic polyethylene piping is buried from 5' to 6' deep across a wide
      area of land. Horizontal systems can even be installed in ponds or other bodies of water.

      Other systems using direct exchange refrigerant tubing also are available for homes with restricted lot conditions.

    Geothermal heat pumps offer the most efficient heating and cooling systems available. They are the only heating and cooling systems that take from nature only what is needed, depleting little. They borrow stored solar heat from the Earth, giving it back as the seasons change. This technology helps save the environment while it saves you money.

    In addition, geothermal systems are much quieter than conventional equipment because there is no noisy outdoor equipment to maintain. And you'll enjoy maximum comfort as the geothermal system provides warmer conditioned air in the winter, virtually eliminating hot and cold spots throughout your home.

    Conserve Natural Resources
    Because geothermal systems use the Earth as a renewable heat sink and heat source, system owners help conserve natural resources. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency rate geothermal heat pumps as the most efficient, environmentally friendly heating and cooling systems available for today's residential and commercial buildings.

    To learn more about geothermal heat pumps, visit these Web sites: