About Geothermal
Geothermal Heat Pump Systems use the Constant Temperature of the Ground
Geothermal Heating and Cooling is often referred to as Geoexchange, Geothermal, or Ground Source Heating and Cooling. They all mean the exact same thing, so don’t get confused by these names being interchanged.
Geothermal heating & cooling is not to be confused with a geothermal power plant. A geothermal power plant generates electricity using the core of the earth – we are not referring to this, ever. We are talking about using the crust of the earth to heat and cool a home or building; there is no lava or electricity generation involved.
Ground temperatures are a constant 55° all year no matter what the weathers like
Geothermal works because the ground beneath our feet is warmer than the outside air in the winter and cooler in the summer. Inserting a series of small pipes into the ground allows heat to be transferred to and from your home. In this process heat is not created, it is transported therefore no fuel is burned.
Two Pieces to the Geothermal System
- Heat Pump - the inside unit known as the heat pump
- Ground Loop - underground pipes which connect to the heat pump
There are two main types of geothermal systems found on Long Island, Open Loop and Closed Loop Systems. Closed loop systems, as described below, use the ground as a battery to extract heating and cooling. Open loop systems use ground water on a once through basis to provide heating and cooling. Since open loop systems utilize the same ground water that we use too as our drinking water, the potential for contamination has caused ZBF Geothermal to make the decision to only install closed loop systems.
Winter Operation: The underground pipes, called a ground loop, circulate water which absorbs the heat from the earth and returns it to the indoor heat pump. The heat pump extracts the heat from the liquid then distributes it throughout your home as warm air. With the heat removed, the water is re-circulated to collect more heat from the ground. In this case, the loop water is warmer when it comes into the home than when it goes back into the earth since the heat is being removed.
Summer Operation: The indoor heat pump takes the hot air from your home and removes the heat. This leaves behind cool air to be distributed through your vents as air-conditioning. The removed heat from the air is rejected into the earth through the ground loop. In this case, the water is warmer leaving the home then when it returns since heat is rejected into it. This is not a new technology, this is not a science experiment, this not rocket science. In fact, in many European nations geothermal heating and cooling is the standard. In Sweden and Switzerland, more than 75% of new homes have geothermal. The EPA has acknowledged geothermal systems as the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, & cost-effective space conditioning systems available.
About ZBF Geothermal
ZBF Geothermal is proud to serve the people of Long Island and the surrounding area with prompt, quality service. We install high quality geothermal products which have industry leading warranties and performance. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service. Call 516-992-5566 today to schedule a service appointment or for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll help determine the perfect system for your home or business.
Our team services most major brands of geothermal and HVAC equipment. We’ve been proudly serving ZBF Geothermal and the surrounding area with top of the line products, service, and maintenance for years and hope to do the same for you, give us a call today!
Zachary Fink, the founder of ZBF Geothermal, is third generator air conditioning and heating. Going full circle, his grandfather started his company to convert clients from coal to oil hot water heating. This uncle started S.A. Fink Associates and installed hundreds of geothermal systems going back to the 1970’s, along with converting customers from oil to natural gas. Since starting in the industry, Zach quickly identified the need for a company focused on high quality geothermal installations. After leaving S.A. Fink, Zach started geothermal divisions at two companies before founding ZBF Geothermal in 2012. In his families 70 years in the air conditioning and heating industries on Long Island, they’ve been on the front lines of every, what at the time, seemed like a cutting-edge technology to emerge.
ZBF Geothermal has been involved in the design, installation, and servicing of some of Long Island and New York City’s highest profile geothermal systems, including Beach Green Dunes II, NYC’s first closed loop affordable passive housing project located in Far Rockaway, NY. Clients have included Google X, National Grid, L+M Development, and thousands of residential clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
