Energy savings from the ground up
The study examined the impact of environmentally sustainable features of the Fairwater community in Blacktown by Frasers Property Australia. Photo: Leena Thomas.
A study led by Professor Leena Thomas from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has found homes at a world-leading sustainable community in western Sydney use 21 percent less electricity than comparable nearby suburbs because of geothermal technology.
Ground source heat pumps use the stable ambient temperature below ground to heat and cool homes. In summer the units take heat from inside the home and transfer it via a series of underground pipes to the ground for cooling before returning it to the home. In winter they take natural heat from the ground and reverse the process.
The study examined the effects of ground source heat pumps on the 750 homes at the Fairwater community by Frasers Property Australia. It found that when installed at scale and at the beginning of the building process, geothermal technology can be both a profitable and environmentally beneficial addition to a home.
Continue reading on the UTS Newsroom: Energy savings from the ground up
