OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

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What is Geothermal?

Geothermal energy, is simply put, energy derived from the Earth. Geothermal energy is a clean, renewable resource. The heat emanating from the interior of the earth is available everywhere and is, essentially, limitless.

We will be installing 11 Ground Source Heat Pumps (GHP). GHPs take advantage of the Earth's relatively constant temperature (45-58 degrees) and circulate liquid (ours will be 25% propylene glycol and 75% water) through pipes buried in a continuous loop. We are drilling 28 wells that are 290 feet vertically into the Earth, under our parking lot.

Animals burrow underground for warmth in the winter and to escape the heat in the summer. The same idea is applied to geothermal heating and cooling. To supply heat, the GHP pulls heat from the earth through the loop and distributes it though a conventional duct system. For cooling, the process is reversed; the system extracts heat from the building and moves it back into the loop in the Earth. GHPs reduce electricity use 30-60% compared with traditional heating and cooling systems.

The project is being contracted by a member of our family, Ilene Kaufman Techner, a licensed builder who is experienced in developing geothermal and other energy-saving systems for homes and business. She can be reached at (248) 990-2455 or Ilene@itecenterprises.com.

For more information on geothermal energy, visit these other sites:

www.geoexchange.org
www.geo-energy.org
www.geothermal.marin.org