Thanks to a successful grant application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Capital Grants Program in fall 2018, a geothermal heating and cooling system was installed at the Central Algoma Land Trust Conservation Centre. The system has reduced environmental impacts and lowered operational costs at the Conservation Centre. Work began in April 2019 and was completed later that summer.

How It Works

During the winter, geothermal heating and cooling systems absorb heat stored in the ground through water circulating in an underground loop. This heat is carried to ground-source heat pumps, where it is concentrated and then distributed as warm, comfortable air throughout the building.

When heating is needed most, outdoor air is coldest. Traditional air-source heat pumps must work hard to extract enough heat from cold air to warm a facility. Geothermal heat pump systems, by contrast, draw from the steady, abundant heat stored below the building. Because they can absorb ground heat more easily, geothermal systems consume less energy and are significantly more efficient.

During the summer, geothermal systems absorb heat from the building and transfer it to the underground loop, where it is released into the cooler earth. The geothermal heat pump then uses the cool water returning from the ground to produce cool, dehumidified air for air conditioning.