By Micah Gamino
One key element of the Edmond Electric Energy Efficient Home, or E4 Home, is the geothermal heat pump.
(For those of you who need a refresher: The E4 is a demo home being constructed by Edmond Electric and their partner, Edmond-based Red Rock Builders Inc., as part of their bid to convince home buyers to demand more energy efficient homes from builders. For more explination, visit http://newsok.com/article/3295312/)
So, what’s a geothermal heat pump? Well, you’re not alone. I had never heard of such a contraption before officials with Edmond’s electric utility told me of their plans to put one in the E4 Home. A geothermal heat pump, or ground source heat pump, uses a system of pipes containing water or a water and antifreeze mixture to circulate the Earth’s constant temperature from the ground into your home. The system is said to heat and cool a home much more efficiently — using less electricity — than a conventional heat pump. A conventional heat pump works very hard to heat or cool outside air before injecting it into your home to provide a desired temperature.
But does geothermal really work better? The federal government may be able to shed some light. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/heatpumps.html
One interesting note exclusive to Go Green blog readers: Edmond Electric’s Energy Service Manager Bob Corff, who is the brainchild behind the E4 Home, long ago installed a geothermal system at his home in Edmond.