Which one of the following is true for ground source heat pumps?

Correct option is C

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) work by transferring heat between the ground and a building. They provide both heating and cooling, making them highly versatile and energy-efficient. In winter, they extract heat from the ground and transfer it into the building. In summer, the process reverses, and heat is extracted from the building and dumped back into the ground. This makes ground source heat pumps a renewable and efficient heating and cooling solution.
· Heating Mode: The pump extracts low-grade heat from the ground, compresses it to raise the temperature, and delivers it to the building.
· Cooling Mode: Heat from the building is transferred back into the ground, effectively cooling the space.
Information Booster:
1. Efficiency: GSHPs are significantly more energy-efficient than traditional heating systems, offering savings on energy bills.
2. Environmental Impact: They reduce carbon emissions by utilizing renewable energy from the ground.
3. Installation: Can be installed vertically (deep boreholes) or horizontally (shallow trenches) based on available space.
4. Longevity: The underground components can last up to 50 years, while the heat pump itself typically lasts around 20-25 years.
5. Applications: Suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Additional Knowledge:
· Option (a): Correct in part – GSHPs can pump heat from the ground into a building, but this doesn't account for the cooling function.
· Option (b): Correct in part – They can extract heat from a building and dump it back into the ground, but this also doesn’t mention heating.
· Option (d): Incorrect – Ground source heat pumps do not directly produce hot water; they transfer heat, which can then be used to heat water through a secondary system.