Solar energy that can be used to heat your home is stored in the bedrock, ground, air and water. A heat pump utilises this inexhaustible and eco-friendly source of heating and transports it into your home. The type of heat pump depends on where you fetch the stored energy from.
Ground source - vertical loop
The vertical ground loop collects solar energy stored in bedrock. A hole is drilled into the bedrock and a pipe is laid to a depth of between 100 and 200 metres. The exact depth depends on the house, size of heat pump and surrounding conditions.
There is a common myth about heat pumps that they will not work if several homes in the neighbourhood have already drilled down to the bedrock. This is definitely not the case! The Earth's ability to store heat is almost endless - there's enough heat for everyone.
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Ground source - horizontal loop
The horizontal ground loop collects solar energy stored in the ground surface. If the bedrock is too deep, or if you do not wish to drill for other reasons, this alternative is a good choice.
The loop is buried round one metre beneath the surface of the land and energy is extracted from the ground. The length of the loop depends on the house, the size of the heat pump and local ground conditions.
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Ground water source
A groundwater heat pump collects energy from the groundwater. The water is pumped up from a water borehole to a heat exchanger, where the energy is recovered. The water is then discharged back through another well.
This solution can be the right alternative when groundwater is readily available.
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Air source
With an air heat pump there is no need to dig or drill. Instead you take the energy straight from the surrounding air.
To obtain a complete system that covers all your heating requirements, including hot water, you need an air/water heat pump. In comparison, an air/air heat pump is only capable of supplying heating, not hot water.
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