geothermal heating
Heating is generated by transferring natural heat underneath the building or nearby into the interior.
Geothermal heating is the practice of extracting natural heat from the earth for direct transfer to indoor areas. The process is highly favored as a sustainable source of energy, because it does not burn carbon fuels or require transfers of energy across large distances. However it is not equally available in all areas, and is a much more plentiful source of heat in areas with volcanic or other tectonic activity.
Natural heat from the earth is the source for indoor heating. The definition concerns that thermal supply rather than electricity generated elsewhere from geothermal resources.
A heat pump can participate in supplying geothermal heat. The existing heating types nevertheless identify the geothermal source separately.
Related definitions
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coal heating
A building heating system that burns coal on the site and distributes the resulting heat, normally through air ducts. -
electric coils in floor
Heating is generated by passing electric current through heating coils embedded in the floors. -
electric convectors
Electric heaters that warm surrounding air and create circulation through the density difference between warm and cool air. -
fireplace
An open hearth where wood is burned to heat the adjoining interior space, distinct from an enclosed wood stove. -
forced air
Room-level or floor-level electric heating with fans beside heated coils, excluding fuel-fired ducted heating. -
gas heating (central)
Heating is generated for the whole building by burning natural gas on the site. -
gas heating (floor-by-floor)
Natural-gas heating with an individual burner serving a room, space, or floor rather than central ducted distribution. -
heat pump
A heating system mechanically transferring heat from nearby air or water into a building, with geothermal heating listed separately. -
hydronic floor heating
An underfloor heating system circulating boiler-heated water through closely spaced pipes in a closed loop. -
oil heating
A building heating system that burns oil products on the site, normally distributing the resulting heat through air ducts. -
pellet stove
An interior heating system using a stove which burns compact pellets of biomass or compressed wood. -
radiators
Heating devices that transfer heat from circulating water, steam, or another heated substance through a large metal surface. -
remote heat generation
Heat is supplied by an external heating plant, and delivered in the form of a heat conductor such as water. -
solar heating (active)
A building heating system supplied by electricity generated from solar radiation by photovoltaic panels on the site. -
wood oven
A building heating system burning wood in enclosed chambers, either centrally or in separate floors or units.