Geothermal energy is defined as the heat generated in the earth’s core since the planet’s origin. This energy originates from radioactive decay of several minerals under the earth’s crust and also from the solar energy absorbed by the earth’s surface. The energy at present, is used in industries, commercial enterprises and even in households for various functions and is considered ecologically viable as it uses minimum exhaustible resources of the earth. The thermal efficiency of this energy is also high as little or no energy conversion is needed during its use.

In recent times, geothermal energy gains ground as it is being more and more used in heating and cooling of houses and offices. This process uses constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool houses and businesses with 40-70% less energy than conventional systems. While regular heating and cooling devices burn fuel or consume electricity, the geothermal energy uses a much lesser amount of electricity only to pump out heat from the earth and then directly utilize the heat energy for air heating or cooling.

Geothermal companies offer ground source heat pumps, for air cooling and heating purposes, which extracts heat from ground or groundwater, thus lowering carbon dioxide emissions and electricity bills and increasing ecological sustainability.

Ground source heat pumps : Mode of action

Air cooling and heating by ground source heat pumps is a procedure which is very much in vogue in the developed countries and is reaching a certain level of utilisation in developing nations as well. The constant heat of the earth, at about 10 feet under the earth’s surface, remains around 50