maalämpöjen

Maalämpö, also known as geothermal heating and cooling, is a renewable energy technology that utilizes the stable temperature of the Earth's subsurface to regulate the temperature of buildings. The ground beneath the surface, typically at a depth of a few meters, maintains a relatively constant temperature year-round, around 8-12 degrees Celsius in many temperate climates. This stored thermal energy can be accessed and transferred using a geothermal heat pump system.

The system consists of three main components: the ground loop (a network of pipes buried in the ground), the heat pump unit, and the distribution system within the building. In winter, the fluid circulating through the ground loop absorbs heat from the earth. This heat is then transferred to the heat pump, which concentrates it and uses it to warm the building's air or water. In summer, the process is reversed. The heat pump extracts heat from the building and transfers it to the fluid in the ground loop, which then dissipates the heat into the cooler earth, thereby cooling the building.

Maalämpö systems offer several advantages, including significant energy savings compared to conventional heating and cooling methods, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and a long lifespan for the ground loop. The initial installation cost can be higher than traditional systems, but the long-term operational savings and environmental benefits often make it a worthwhile investment. The efficiency of a maalämpö system is measured by its coefficient of performance (COP), which indicates the ratio of heating or cooling provided to the energy consumed.