Cool Earth - Overview

The Cool Earth Project explores alternative options for heating and cooling our homes in Perth's unique environment. 

Two homes have been built side-by-side within The Vive at Craigie - a prime residential estate in Perth's northern suburbs.  One home contains a geoexchange heating and cooling system, while the other has a standard reverse-cycle air conditioner. 

Over a two year period, the temperature and energy usage of the two homes have been compared to measure the effectiveness of the geoexchange system against conventional technology. 

It's one of our Innovation through Demonstration projects, and has the potential to revolutionise the way we heat and cool our homes in the future.

Initiatives like this rely on collaboration with a number of people in order to bring all the elements together.  We're proud to be working on this project with ABN Group, GeoExchange Australia, Carbonomics and The University of Western Australia.

Geoexchange technology works similar to a reverse-cycle air conditioner, except instead of relying on electricity, the system uses ground water as a 'heat source' or 'heat sink' to heat or cool the home.  

While outdoor temperatures fluctuate from winter to summer, the below ground temperature remains at a relatively constant 20 degrees year-round. 

To make the most of this constant temperature, ground water is sourced from the aquifer and piped into a geoexchange unit in the garage of the home. Within this unit a heat transfer occurs between the water and the air, effectively using 'free energy' from the ground. 

While some electricity is still required to run the unit, the amount of power needed is significantly less. 

Check out the video below for more information on what this project is all about.