Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) transfer heat from the ground into a building to provide space heating and, in some cases, to pre-heat domestic hot water.

A Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) draws this heat from the ground via a plastic pipe buried in the ground, in either a bore hole or a horizontal trench . This pipe is filled with a water and antifreeze solution, the temperature of which is raised a few degrees by the heat in the surrounding soil. By compression in the heat pump, the temperature of the solution is raised and the heat is transferred to your heating system to provide space heating and, in some cases, pre-heating of domestic hot water.

Once the ground loop has been placed in the ground the surface soil can be replaced, covered with turf and/or vegetation and used safely as a garden or equivalent. For both vertical and horizontal loops there is nothing visible above ground.