Geothermal energy: questions you never dared to ask
Summary for decision-makers
Installation of geothermal sensors: technical advice and constraints
The choice of terrain is not critical for installing geothermal collectors, but specific measures are required for rocky or clay soils. The collector area should not be concreted; permeable asphalt is suitable. Vehicle traffic is permitted over the area if it is covered with 60 cm of soil. A distance of 1,50 m must be maintained from the house. The system is continuously renewable.
Summary
- Is the nature of my land important?
- Can I plant flowers and trees above the sensor?
- Can I tar or concrete the catchment area?
- Can I drive in the catchment area?
- Is there a distance to respect when placing the sensor?
- Can the catchment area become depleted?
- Does underfloor heating cause leg pain?
- Can we heat with radiators, towel dryers, or fan coils?
- Can you heat a swimming pool?
Enjoy your reading!
France Géothermie answers questions that any individual may have about installing a geothermal system.
Batipôle Editorial
Is the nature of my land important?
The nature of the ground is indifferent, however rocky or clayey ground requires a protective bed of sand.
Can I plant flowers and trees above the sensor ?
You can plant any type of tree or shrub. For trees, you must mark a 2m radius without sensors.
Can I tar or concrete the catchment area?
Some permeable (so-called draining) tars allow this. Conversely, concrete does not tolerate any deformation due to backfilled ground; you therefore cannot concrete a catchment area.
Can I drive in the catchment area?
If the area has been properly covered (60 cm of soil), the sensor can easily withstand the movement of a car or truck.
Is there a distance to respect when placing the sensor?
It is necessary to leave a space of 1,50 m between the sensor and the house.
Can the catchment area become depleted?
The soil is constantly receiving calories (sun, wind, rain, etc.). It is constantly regenerating itself and returns to its natural state during the summer.geothermal energy is therefore inexhaustible.
Does underfloor heating cause leg pain?
No, since the provisions of the AFNOR 65-14 standard concerning heated floors, the temperature of the slab is very mild, only 3°C more than the ambient temperature, so you will not feel this kind of discomfort.
Can we heat with radiators, towel dryers, or fan coils?
It is possible to use heating solutions of this type in low temperature.
Can you heat a swimming pool?
Thanks to a reversible heat pump, it is entirely possible to heat a swimming pool in the mid-season and permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant trees or flowers above the geothermal collector?
It is possible to plant trees or shrubs above the sensor, but a radius of 2 m must be respected around trees without sensors.
Can I tar or concrete the catchment area?
It is possible to tarmac with a draining tarmac; it is forbidden to concrete the catchment area because concrete does not tolerate any deformation of the backfilled ground.
Can the geothermal catchment area become depleted?
No, the ground constantly receives calories (sun, wind, rain) and regenerates naturally; geothermal energy is considered inexhaustible.
Thematic glossary
Sensor
A device buried in the ground that captures calories for geothermal heating.
Catchment area
Area of land where the geothermal sensors are buried.
Concrete
Construction material incompatible with the catchment area due to its rigidity.
AFNOR 65-14
French standard which sets the temperature requirements for the use of underfloor heating.
reversible heat pump
Heat pump capable of heating or cooling, used among other things for swimming pool heating.
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