Why Choose Geothermal?

Geo-Exchange heating and cooling (commonly known as geothermal or ground-source) systems provide not only superior efficiency, indoor air quality and comfort; it is a technology that you can feel comfortable about. Geo-Exchange is considered by the "EPA and Dept. of Energy as the greenest" and most environmentally responsible heating and cooling choice available today.

EarthLinked Geo-Exchange heat pumps are the ideal primary source for heating and cooling. Tapping into the Earth's "Natural" regenerative thermal storage capacity of the ground as a renewable energy source for our homes and businesses is the most reliable choice to lower your energy bills and our dependance on fossil fuels both regionally and from foreign sources.

Geothermal “Unearthed"

Ground temperatures five to seven feet below the surface remains a relatively constant 50 - 75 degrees all year, even though outdoor temperatures may vary widely. The reliability of this stable heat sink (Summer) or heat source (Winter) provides the means to achieve heating and cooling efficiencies along with performance levels unsurpassed by any other method.

The Truth about efficiency ratings

Efficiency numbers are often misrepresented, and it is important that you understand how and where they come from. SEER (Seasonal Energy Electrical Rating) efficiency numbers are based upon conditions experienced by less than 25% of the country 3 -4 months a year:

• Outdoor 82
• Indoor 80
• Humdity 50%

EER (Electrical Energy Rating) is the truest rating system because it strictly compares Amperage draw (Kilowatts used over time) of equipment at given conditions. The higher the EER the more efficient the equipment is.

Now, here is the kicker; Its all about ratings and manufacturers sometimes STRETCH the truth or should I say market to non-real world conditions. Take for example the Water-Source approach to Geo-Exchange; they publish EER's of 27 - 30 but these like SEER ratings only apply to a given loop design, namely open loop circulating a constant 65 degree water. According to ARI (American Refrigeration Institute) who is the non-biased rating entity each manufacture reports to, a closed loop design (which applies to 80% of all Water-Source installations achieves EER ratings of around 15.5, that almost 50% less than advertised.

How EarthLinked works for you

EarthLinked® systems have three major subsystems or parts: a geothermal heat pump to move heat between the building and the refrigerant fluid that circulates through the earth connection, an copper earth connection (or earth loop) for transferring heat between its fluid and the earth, and a distribution subsystem for delivering heating or cooling to the building. Each system may also have a desuperheater to supplement the building's water heater, or a full-demand refrigerant to water module to meet all of the building's hot water needs.

In Winter (heating mode), heat is extracted from the fluid in the earth connection by the GeoExchange heat pump and distributed to the home or building - typically through a system of air ducts. Cooler air from the building is returned to the GeoExchange heat pump, where it cools the fluid flowing to the earth connection. The fluid is then re-warmed as it flows through the earth connection.

In Summer (cooling mode), the process is reversed. The relatively cool fluid from the earth connection absorbs heat from the building and transfers it to the ground. transfers it to the ground.

What Makes the EarthLinked® GeoExchange System Unique

The EarthLinked® system is uniquely simple. ECR Technologies' pioneering spirit, years of intense research and field demonstrations brought about the technological advances that make this simplicity possible. The breakthrough was in ECR's Adaptiv™ refrigerant flow controls. They allow the unit to operate with the refrigeration compressor and circulating fan essentially as the only components that consume energy.

Earlier geothermal models were limited by dependency on a large plastic water loop, an intermediate heat exchanger and a circulating pump to connect the exchanger to its heat source. EarthLinked® replaces all of these costly components with a small copper earth loop, available in a variety of configurations to fit any installation requirement. Named DIRECT AXXESS® for its ability to transfer thermal energy from the earth, the earth loop system circulates refrigerant through highly conductive copper earth loops.

ECR developed and perfected the simplified design of EarthLinked®, including its innovative refrigerant controls and earth loops, to substantially reduce the cost of installation and operation while increasing reliability. Efficiency is increased, power consumption is reduced and there is no secondary heat exchanger or circulating pump to clog or fail—a win-win-win situation for the homeowner, the environment and the installer.

Click here to learn more about the EarthLinked® system.

Click here to learn more about Adaptiv™ refrigerant flow controls.

Click here to learn more about ECR Technologies, Inc.

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