Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Geothermal heat pumps are systems that use the constant temperature of the Earth to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for buildings. They transfer heat between the ground and a building by circulating fluid through underground pipes.
Related terms
Ground-source heating: A type of geothermal system that uses the stable temperature of the ground to provide heating.
Heat exchanger: A device that transfers thermal energy between two fluids without mixing them together.