Geothermal Heat Pumps

• Ground temperatures are colder than the air in the summer and warmer than the air in the winter. Geothermal heat pumps utilize this temperature variance. The units heat and cool by circulating fluids through piping in the ground. Evaporators in the heat pump system produce hot or cold air from the circulating fluids.
  
  

Air to Air Heat Pumps

• Air to air systems transfer air between the inside and outside of a building. When in air conditioning mode, the heat pump moves hot air from indoors to outdoors. When in heat mode, the system extracts heat from the outside air, even on relatively cool days, and moves it indoors.
  
  

Considerations

• Geothermal systems are more expensive to install because they require installation of ground piping outside the residence or commercial building. Air to air heat pumps are less expensive to install but more expensive to operate.