Natural Air Conditioning Earth Tubes

These in ground pvc cooling tubes are also known as air tubes earth air tubes a ground coupled heat exchanger an earth air heat exchanger thermal labyrinth heat recovery ventilation geothermal energy tubes sustainability tubes or a number of other terms.

Natural air conditioning earth tubes. This is the primary passive cooling strategy in all climate zones but the nuances of its application vary by region. Electricity free cooling based on ancient global principles. These are used for either partial or full cooling and or heating of facility ventilation air. As air travels through the pipe it gives up some of its heat to the soil and enters the house as cooler air.

Natural ventilation makes the most of air motion to cool you and your home. Earth tubes are often a viable and economical alternative or supplement to conventional central heating or air conditioning systems since there are no compressors chemicals or burners and only blowers are required to move the air. Earth air tubes provide natural heating during the cold seasons and natural cooling and dehumidification during the warm seasons. And they do it for zero operating costs and complement or during the more moderate months of the year substitute for active passive house heating and cooling systems which in our case were ductless mini splits.

The same system can be used to reduce heating costs in the winter. An earth cooling tube also known as an earth tube is a long underground metal or plastic pipe through which air is drawn. Earth tubes are nothing more that fresh air intake pipes and round pipes are much much easier to clean than rectangular galvanized steel duct work. Earth tubes are a passive heating and cooling technique that uses tubes that are buried at least 6 feet in the ground that has air passing through them and uses the constant temperature of 50 degrees of the earth to cool and dehumidify air in the summer and warm air in the winter before entering the building envelope.

Earth tubes also known as ground coupled heat exchanger systems aim to take advantage of the cool air beneath your home to keep your house comfortable during even the worst heat waves.