PORCELANOSA is a Spanish group with eight companies manufacturing a wide range of products including kitchen/bathroom equipment and state-of-the-art building solutions. Their products are available in more than 100 countries around the world.
In this post, I'd like to share the product/solution from PORCELANOSA I want in my dream home -
Geothermal Energy System
The temperature 6-10 feet inside the earth, below our houses, remains constant irrespective of whether the season outside is summer or winter. In winter, the temperature below the earth is hotter than outside and in summer, it is cooler. This temperature difference can be used to provide heating and cooling (to power HVAC systems) throughout the year using geothermal energy.
In this system, water is sent into the ground through pipes and is pumped up. In winter, the water coming from the ground will be hotter and is run through a heat exchanger to deposit heat, which is distributed to HVAC systems for heating. In summer, the reverse process happens: the excessive heat in the house is absorbed by the water, and is deposited into the ground where the temperature is lower. Thus, the geothermal HVAC systems can heat/cool the house during winter/summer, respectively.
Geothermal systems are a form of renewable energy. Even though they consume some electricity for the operation of the pump, etc. they produce 4-6 times more electricity (or save that much). They don't pollute, they are not noisy, they use renewable source of energy that is available just below the earth almost throughout the earth.
A geothermal system has three components: heat pump, heat exchange medium (water), air delivery through ducts. Some electricity is used to power these components, but 5-6 times more energy is produced by the system.
Geothermal systems are somewhat expensive (per kWh) when compared to other renewable energy technologies, but they last for multiple generations if installed and maintained properly. These systems can be installed anywhere, even in places where there is not much open land, as vertical pipes can be used instead of horizontal pipes for creating the earth loop. And since these pipes are buried into the ground, the real-estate space on the ground is not wasted.
The same system can be used for both heating and cooling, and that's a big advantage. Water is used as a refrigerant, but it is recycled after use - hence not wasted. One system can be used to heat/cool multiple systems simultaneously if the installed capacity is sufficient.
Geothermal systems are a mature technology and have been in use for more than 60 years in residential applications. They are also used for large-scale commercial power generation, but that's a different system. They don't generate any noise and save a lot of electricity. They use the earth's heat that is always available, everywhere.
Click here for a visual representation of the residential geothermal solution and further details.
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