While the air can range from scorching hot to freezing cold, the earth maintains a steady temperature that has increasing applications as a renewable and highly earth friendly power source. Geothermal heat pumps can be used to regulate building temperatures and in some cases, even provide piping hot water- with next to no environmental impact. Although the technology has been available since the 1940’s, in recent years small and easy to install models are making the ground’s natural energy more accessible than ever.

Manufactured by ClimateMaster, the Tranquility 27 is one of the most eco-friendly models on the market. Exceptionally efficient, this refrigerator-sized geothermal pump uses the stable temperature of groundwater to redistribute your home’s heat, providing cooling air in summer and effective cold weather heating, depending on your needs. Considered the highest-efficiency water-source heat pump commercially available, the Tranquility also uses “zero-ozone depletion” refrigerant, making this an excellent choice for earth-conscious island owners. More information on geothermal power and ClimateMaster products is available here: http://www.climatemaster.com/

When most people think of geothermal energy they think of massive magma eruptions, or superheated geysers erupting from the earth. Few people realize that natural heat energy created by the Earth’s core has enormous potential to be tapped for human consumption. More importantly, this form of energy is environmentally friendly and can be generated in your own backyard.

One does not need to take a journey to the center of the Earth to get this energy. At about 30 feet into the Earths surface the temperature stays relatively constant. Geothermal heat pumps work by carrying heat from one place to another. In warm locations such as tropical islands heat pumps can transfer heat from the home down into the ground thus cooling the environment much like a refrigerator. In cold locations such as northern islands, heat pumps can transfer heat from the ground into a building. Thus through this simple system you can produce ambient air that warms or cools your home depending on the location of your island.

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