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Geothermal - FAQs
Is the energy really free?
The heat produced by the soil is effectively a totally free energy. It exists naturally in the soil and is constantly renewed by the effects of wind, rain and sun. As the owner of your land, you are effectively the owner of your own source of energy. Only the installation of a system to collect and control the energy represents a financial cost, and that is a once only payment.
For 4 kW of energy necessary for your heating system, only 1 kW of energy is paid for.
Are the economies achieved actually real?
The economies associated with this system are very real and are acquired using the "Free" energy from your garden. Just compare the costs of the fuel consumptions for other heating systems for an equivalent house’s surface area. The performance of our systems is certified by official organizations such as CETIAT and EUROVENT.
As a general rule, the energy savings available from geothermal systems is 75% compared to other heating systems.
Is the system completely safe?
Completely. The system uses the natural energy of the soil and electricity to transfer this energy into the house. The hot water circuit uses tap water and the generator uses a small quantity of non- toxic refrigerant gas to complete the circuit. There is nothing dangerous in the system.
No flammable gases or liquids, no risk of explosion and no smells or fumes. Geothermal systems are safe at every level.
Is it possible to install geothermal heating in an existing house?
Geothermal heating systems adapt equally well to reformation projects and new constructions. The only difference is how you heat the interior of the house. The choice of radiators or under-floor heating will depend on the level of other work you are undertaking during a reformation.
Whether applied to new builds or reformations, geothermal heating performs equally well.
Heating OK, but cooling the house in the summer?
It is quite simple to cool your house by using the under-floor heating as a cooler. The water circulating in the system can be chilled to between 18 and 20 degrees C, which allows it to refresh your house in hot weather. All that is needed is an optional device, which inverts the function of the generator to produce the cooling effect. Warm in winter, cool in summer, be comfortable all year round.
Is the heating guaranteed to work in the winter?
The ground contains a constant amount of heat whatever the exterior temperature. The ground holds an incredible amount of energy, much more than is necessary to heat a house! This energy is constantly being renewed by the sun and rain. It is only necessary to choose a system powerful enough for your house, so that you can make good use of it throughout the year. Our systems provide 100% of the actual heating demand, every day of the year, provided they are configured to conform with Avenir’s technical specifications
Geothermal heating is very popular in Scandinavia, Germany and Switzerland, because it is completely suited to the severest of climates.
What does a typical system cost?
Given the same surface area of house to be heated, a geothermal heating system will cost about the same as a traditional oil or gas central heating system. The cost comparison is easily made by comparing the cost of a traditional boiler (complete with its chimney and tank), with the cost of a geothermal captor.
The price of a geothermal heating installation is usually about the same as a traditional central heating system.
Does the system need regular maintenance?
Geothermal systems do not require any specific, scheduled maintenance. The absence of any form of combustion means it is not necessary to test for toxic gas emissions, clean out soot and other combustion products. The heating circuit in your house is a closed circuit, and you don't have to change the water that circulates in your under-floor heating.
Geothermal heating is perfectly safe without any specific, scheduled maintenance.
Can I re-use the radiators in a house with an existing system?
Yes. The Avenir Energie systems can be adapted to an existing heating system that uses radiators, as long as they are correctly sized to work with water at a safe temperature of 50 degrees C. If this is not the case, all that is necessary is to increase the size of some of the radiators.
The geothermal system is compatible with existing systems.
How is the domestic hot water produced?
Our geothermal heating systems have a water heating option that can guarantee hot water production to meet all your family's requirements. Thanks to the heat produced by the generator, 300 litres of hot water is constantly available in the optional hot water tank.
Geothermal systems provide plenty of hot water for all your needs.
Is underfloor heating really the most comfortable?
Recent studies have demonstrated the efficiency and comfort of a low temperature under-floor heating systems. This is largely due to advances in manufacturing techniques and to improvements in insulation methods. The floor temperature is always kept at a comfortable, level and there are no more "heavy leg" problems that blighted the older systems. The air is never dried out inside the house, the floors are never cold, and the walls are free of radiator clutter so you can furnish and decorate to your own taste.
Under-floor heating is the best system for controlling the temperature around your house.
What if I want to change the heating system in the future?
By using a "traditional" wet hot water based heating system inside your house, you can change the energy source to produce that hot water whenever you want. You simply change one heating unit for another.
Geothermal GSHP’s are universally, compatible systems.
How much land do I need?
The latest technical improvements enable us to optimize the space available. For example, you will need 200 m2 of land available to heat a house of 150 m2 floor area. There is also the possibility of using a vertical captor that will collect energy at a depth of between 70 and 100 metres.
Typically you need in the region of 1.2 - 1.5 m2 of captor area to heat 1.0 m2 of house.
What can I plant in the garden?
The captors are laid at a depth of between 50 and 60cm. Therefore, it is quite possible to plant and grow flowers, plants and small bushes in the area used for the energy captors. It is however necessary to protect the captor area from infiltration of the roots of large trees and bushes, which may in time damage the pipe network.
The garden remains a garden, which you can "work" just as normal.
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