Geothermal Cooling for Urban Homes in India: A Clean Technology Approach to Sustainable Air Conditioning

Growing energy demand for air conditioning in urban India is driving electricity consumption, carbon emissions, and household costs. Conventional air conditioners, while effective, are energy‑intensive and often unaffordable for large sections of the population. This study explores a geothermal‑based cooling system as a clean technology alternative for residential buildings. The design utilizes existing domestic infrastructure—such as sump tanks, overhead tanks, and plumbing systems—combined with a finned‑coil heat exchanger and water circulation pumps. A detailed cost analysis indicates that system installation ranges between ₹18,000 and ₹35,000 for individual rooms and up to ₹90,000 for whole‑house models, which is significantly lower than the cost of conventional air conditioners over their operating lifetime. Performance evaluations highlight challenges such as long startup times (60–120 minutes), but suggest that optimized heat exchanger design, booster pumps, and airflow improvements can reduce cooling delays. Beyond engineering, the study considers scalability, including adaptation for apartment complexes through shared borewells and community‑based “cooling as a service” models. Environmental and policy implications are emphasized, showing that geothermal cooling offers not only energy savings but also reduced emissions and improved thermal comfort for sustainable urban development. This research demonstrates that with targeted policy support and technology refinement, geothermal cooling could become a viable pathway toward clean and affordable residential cooling in India.