Les options possibles
Cooling the House
Whatever the technological solution selected, all geothermal systems can also be used as cooling systems by simply reversing the flow of refrigerant and thus channelling the heat out into the ground. The thermodynamic generator in the direct condensation and evaporation systems draws the hot air into air-conditioning units where it is cooled, whereas in the dual water heat exchanger and the hybrid systems, the heat is flushed out via the hydraulic circuit.
In the latter cases, it is possible to cool the house using the floor coils as long as some precautions are taken. Since this cooling system does not dehumidify the air the way air systems do, the floor temperature cannot be set lower than 20°C when outside temperatures stand at 35°C, as the floor would be covered with condensation. It is therefore preferable to cool interiors in warmer climates using a network of air conditioning units: although this is slightly more expensive than a cooling floor system, it is almost as effective as traditional air systems.
Heating the Pool
The thermodynamic generator that heats the house can also be used to heat a swimming pool. In this case, the home heating circuit is simply closed while a heat exchanger is used to channel heat to the pool. The system can be set to automatically maintain indoor temperatures while directing any excess heat to the pool, a feature that comes in handy during the spring and autumn. By including the pool in the system, this configuration makes even more efficient use of the geothermal heating.