The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have both endorsed geothermal heat pump systems as among the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective systems for temperature control.  Homeowners can expect to enjoy a comfortable, reliable, and economical system while also reducing energy use and pollution.   

Ground source heat pumps provide heating, air conditioning, and, if so equipped, supply the house with hot water. They are smaller than a traditional heating/cooling unit and can easily be retrofitted into any home.  The mechanical components are safely located underground or within the home – which eliminates fears of vandalism or theft.  With extreme durability the parts can last a generation and require very little maintenance.  These systems do not have fans, so instead of hearing and feeling blasts of air, you will enjoy a quiet, consistent temperature throughout the day.  Geothermal heat pumps can even improve your health and reduce allergies because they excel at humidity control, thus there is a reduced chance for mold and mildew growth.

In addition to being practical and providing a luxurious atmosphere, geothermal heat pumps are exceptionally good for the environment and extremely safe.  These systems do not have on-site emissions or flammable materials.  By eliminating any combustion you do not have to worry about fumes, odors, or carbon monoxide in your home.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if just 100,000 homes converted to a geothermal heating and cooling system, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 880 million pounds.  Currently, atmospheric CO2 is 30% higher than it was 200 years ago and if not reduced can cause serious detrimental global impacts.  Geothermal technology offers a wonderful solution to lowering these greenhouse gases. 

There has never been a better time to invest in a geothermal heat pump system.  Contrary to popular belief, geothermal units are surprisingly affordable and save you more and more money over time.  While investing in a geothermal unit is initially more expensive than a traditional system, the annual savings on energy bills more than compensates for the initial output and you can usually expect full payback in three to five years. With efficiency ratings at least three times higher than other heating and cooling systems it is estimated that you can save between 30 to 70% on heating and cooling costs.  Also, recent Congressional legislation has provided a 30% tax credit for the installed cost of a residential heat pump system, no cap.

When you consider the durability, comfort, cleanliness, and energy savings it is obvious why the government has endorsed them as the best systems for temperature control!

Dolly@GreenAirExpert.net

http://www.geothermalexperts.net

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Thank you

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In recent years, more and more homeowners are having a hard time keeping up with the costs of high heating and cooling bills. With utility pricing perpetually on the rise, many people are starting to seek out ways to improve their homes from an energy-efficiency perspective and lower their yearly maintenance expenses in the process.

Blair Harris is the director of Sales and Marketing at A&R Mechanical Services, a locally owned, full service Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning business that has been serving the Amarillo, Texas area since 1992. She says that one of the best ways for a homeowner to reduce his energy burden is to have a geothermal heating and cooling system installed.

Energy Efficient

Thanks to new EPA standards designed to reduce fossil fuel consumption and associated emissions, heating and cooling systems are becoming more energy efficient. Not only are high-efficiency HVAC systems reducing the amount of energy it takes to heat or cool your home, but new construction methods and improved insulation are also making it easier for HVAC systems to warm or cool your home. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are just one example of recent improvements in HVAC efficiency.

Geothermal heating and cooling involves using the earth’s natural heat to alter the temperature of people’s homes for the better. The process is simple, though the actual installation work can be rather time-consuming and complex. Using a looped piping system that gets installed underground, a geothermal system will essentially work to extract the earth’s heat and pump it into a home. Since the temperature of the earth beneath the surface is relatively constant, a geothermal system will incorporate heating or cooling methods in its piping (known as a thermal loop) to allow homeowners to achieve comfortable temperatures within their houses.

Earth-Friendly

From an environmental perspective, a geothermal system is much more earth-friendly than its traditional counterparts. Since this type of heating and cooling draws its energy from a renewable source and keeps pollution to a minimum, those looking to go green can sleep soundly knowing that their homes aren’t contributing to the planet’s demise. Additionally, the systems are extremely energy efficient. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that those using geothermal heating and cooling systems are generally able to significantly reduce their energy use and associated bills.

Financially Appealing

Although geothermal systems can be somewhat expensive to install, most HVAC experts agree that they are clearly worth their upfront cost. By using geothermal heating and cooling methods, the amount of energy that the average given household can expect to save will more than make up for the initial installation cost, and then some. Additionally, qualifying heating and cooling systems can result in a generous tax credit courtesy of the U.S. government, making the notion of going geothermal even more financially appealing. Finally, from a maintenance perspective, the geothermal systems are known for their easy upkeep and built-in longevity, which can also translate into significant savings.

If you’re looking for a way to help the environment and minimize your utility bills at the same time, you might want to consider replacing your current heating and cooling system with a geothermal counterpart. Not only will you increase the value of your home, you’ll also do your part to preserve our planet in the long run.

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Geothermal heating (aka Ground Source Heat Pumps, GSHP’s, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Geoexchange, etc.) is basically a method of heating and cooling a building that pumps heat from the earth, into your home. To understand how that works, you have to understand how a heat pump works. Every one of you has a heat pump in one form or another in your home, weather it be a refrigerator, air conditioner, or air source heat pump. All a heat pump does is take heat from one place, put it through a refrigerant cycle, and move it to another place. A refrigerator takes heat from inside the refrigerator, and pumps it outside to the heat sink, which is the refrigerant coils on the back of the unit. GSHP’s work the same way, except the heat sink for the unit is a large ground loop buried in the earth. A liquid is circulated through the ground loop, and as that liquid moves, it absorbs the heat from the large thermal mass of earth. That temperature of earth is about 45-55 degrees F beneath the frost line all year round, so the heat pump runs great in the most extreme temperature situations. The circulated liquid is then put through the heat pump, which uses a refrigerant cycle to deliver the heat to your home’s distribution system, which can be either forced air or radiant heat.

Geothermal Heating has many advantages over a conventional system, with the biggest being a huge energy savings of 50-70% on heating and cooling bills. The heat pumps are extremely efficient with a COP (Coefficient of Performance) ranging from 3-5 (300-500% efficient), release no green house gasses, and don’t need to burn any heating fuel. They also run quietly, are very reliable, heat and cool with the same unit, and can generate a significant portion of your domestic hot water need, just as a byproduct of normal operation.

These amazing systems have always come with the stigma of a very high initial installation cost, which is somewhat true. A geothermal system will cost you more to install in your house than a conventional system, but there are a few huge factors that completely change this picture.

The first is the amazing energy savings. A geothermal system will save you 70% on your heating and cooling bill during the year, which is thousands of dollars straight to your pocket. With winter heating costs in Northern climates reaching all time highs, while being very volatile, you can’t afford not to have a geothermal heating system.

The second is massive federal, state and utility company incentives. The federal government is currently offering a 30% federal tax credit towards the installation cost of a ground source heat pump system, which greatly offsets the cost to the owner. Most states also have significant incentives, and they can all be found on www.dsireusa.org. The federal government also has great, low-rate renewable energy loans, which take out the massive initial cost of a geothermal system.

Overall with energy savings and incentives, a geothermal system can pay itself off very quickly, with an average payback period of 4-7 years, with some being as soon as immediately. After the system is paid back, you enjoy thousands of extra dollars per year that you would have otherwise spent on heating costs.

For more information about these and other renewable heating technologies such as solar electricity, solar thermal, radiant heat, and hybrid system design, please visit www.renewableheating101.com.

Geothermal heating systems are rapidly becoming the preferred heating system in households and commercial buildings for many great reasons. If you are interested in one of these systems there are many IGSHPA accredited installers all over the country, ready to help you save thousands of dollars on your heating bill.

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Durability

Geothermal heat pumps are durable and require little maintenance. They have fewer mechanical components than other systems, and most of those components are underground, sheltered from the weather. The underground piping used in the system is often guaranteed to last 25 to 50 years and is virtually worry-free. The components inside the house are small and easily accessible for maintenance. Warm and cool air is distributed through ductwork, just as in a regular forced-air system.

Since geothermal systems have no outside condensing units like air conditioners, they are quieter to operate.

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How Do They Work?

Remember, a geothermal heat pump doesn’t create heat by burning fuel, like a furnace does. Instead, in winter it collects the Earth’s natural heat through a series of pipes, called a loop, installed below the surface of the ground or submersed in a pond or lake. Fluid circulates through the loop and carries the heat to the house. There, an electrically driven compressor and a heat exchanger concentrate the Earth’s energy and release it inside the home at a higher temperature. Ductwork distributes the heat to different rooms.

In summer, the process is reversed. The underground loop draws excess heat from the house and allows it to be absorbed by the Earth. The system cools your home in the same way that a refrigerator keeps your food cool – by drawing heat from the interior, not by blowing in cold air.

The geothermal loop that is buried underground is typically made of high-density polyethylene, a tough plastic that is extraordinarily durable but which allows heat to pass through efficiently. When installers connect sections of pipe, they heat fuse the joints, making the connections stronger than the pipe itself. The fluid in the loop is water or an environmentally safe antifreeze solution that circulates through the pipes in a closed system.

Another type of geothermal system uses a loop of copper piping placed underground. When refrigerant is pumped through the loop, heat is transferred directly through the copper to the earth.

As with any heat pump, geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, and, if so equipped, supply the house with hot water. Some models of geothermal systems are available with two-speed compressors and variable fans for more comfort and energy savings. Relative to air-source heat pumps, they are quieter, last longer, need little maintenance, and do not depend on the temperature of the outside air.

US Department of Energy  http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12640           

Residential Geothermal Tax Incentives

30% of total GHP system cost
Credit limited to $2000 for 2008
No limit to credit amount for 2009 to 2016
Can be used to offset AMT tax
Can be combined with solar and wind tax credits
Can be used in more than one year

Eligibility:

Home must be located in the U.S.
Includes houses, apartments, condos, mobile homes
Does not have to be your main home
GHP must meet Energy Star requirements
Installed between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2016

Commercial Geothermal Tax Incentives

10% of total GHP system cost
No limit to total credit amount
Can be used to offset AMT tax
Can be combined with solar and wind tax credits
Can be used in more than one year
10% grant available in lieu of tax credit

Accelerated Depreciation:

5 year MACR depreciation for entire GHP system
Eligible for 50% first-year bonus depreciation for 2008 – 2009

Eligibility:

Building located in U.S.
Original use begins with taxpayer

Installed between 10/3/2008 and 12/31/2016

Recent Congressional legislation has improved the tax credit for installation of residential

heat pumps. With the new laws, a residential customer who installs a residential

geothermal heat pump may be eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the installed cost of the

system, no cap.

As part of the economic rescue bill (HR 1424) passed in October 2008, a residential

system installed and placed in service anytime between January 1, 2008 and December

31, 2016 was eligible for a tax credit equal to 30 % of the installed cost of the system up

to a cap of $2000 for a single residence.

The Stimulus Bill signed recently by President Obama improves that tax credit.

Specifically, systems placed in service after January 1, 2009 are no longer subject to the

caps. As a result, an installed system now is eligible for a 30% tax credit of the total

installed cost of the system. In addition, if the taxpayer can’t use the credit in the year

the system is installed, he or she can carry any unused credit into the next tax year.

Some key dates to keep in mind:

• If you installed a system and placed it “in service” anytime in 2008, you

are entitled to a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of the system subject

to a cap of $2000 for a single family.

• 2009 installations are not subject to the cap.

Other provisions of the residential credit remain the same:

1. The system must meet Energy Star requirements in effect at the time the

system is completed.

2. The system must be in the taxpayer’s residence but is not limited to the

primary residence.

3. There are no specific requirements for the invoice. However, it will be

helpful if the invoice states “Geothermal Heat Pump” and that it “Exceeds

requirements of Energy Star program currently in effect” on it.

4. The taxpayer has to file the Form 5695 to receive the credit.

There is a special rule for Condos;

In a typical condo, the owners contribute to the upkeep by paying money to a

condominium management association. If the association puts in qualifying equipment,

each member of the association can claim the residential tax credits on his or her taxes

for his or her share of the spending. The condo has to be “substantially used as

residences.”

Last, in most cases, a condo association is not a taxable entity. The individual unit

holders would be the ones that can benefit from a tax credit.

Geothermal Tax Credits

An exciting new tax credit is now available for home and commercial building owners who install geothermal heating and cooling systems through the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (H.R. 1424). H.R. 1424 offers a onetime tax credit of 30% of the total investment for homeowners who install residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pumps.. A credit of 10% of the total investment is also available (no maximum) for a commercial system installation.

To qualify, the systems must meet or exceed EnergyStar requirements and be installed after December 31, 2007. While units installed in 2008 are subject to a $2,000 cap on the credit, units installed from 2009 through 2016 can take advantage of the full credit. Owners can file for the credit by completing the Renewable Energy Credits subsection on their tax return forms for 2008. For taxpayers that are subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax, they can claim the credit on their taxes for the following year. No proof of purchase will be required; however, in case of an audit, owners are encouraged to keep a detailed invoice of their purchase on file. The contractor who sold and installed the product should list the purchase as a “Geothermal Heat Pump” on the invoice and that it “Exceeds requirements of Energy Star program currently in effect”.

The tax credit is available through December 31, 2016. Consult your local tax professional for advice on taking advantage of the tax credit, as this announcement is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of any financial strategy.

Download the brochure: Understanding the Federal Tax Incentives

Helpful Resources
– Excerpt from the Energy Improvement and Extension Act pertaining to geothermal.
– IRS Form 5695*: Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
– More Information about the “Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit”
– Find additional tax incentives that may be available in your state – www.dsireusa.org

Consult your tax professional for details.
*Form 5695 for the 2009 tax year are not yet available.

Johnny@GreenAirExpert.com

www.geothermalexperts.net

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Geothermal heat pumps use the relatively constant temperature of the ground or water several meters below the earth’s surface as source of heating and cooling. Geothermal heat pumps are appropriate for retrofits or in new homes, where both heating and cooling are desired. In addition to heating and cooling, geothermal heat pumps can provide domestic hot water. They can be used for virtually any size home or lot in almost any region with the existence of ground water.

A geothermal heat pump system consists of indoor heat pump equipment, a ground loop, and a flow center to connect the indoor and outdoor equipment. The heat pump equipment works like a reversible refrigerator by removing heat from one location and depositing it in another location. The ground loop, which is invisible after installation, allows the exchange of heat between the earth and the heat pump.

Geothermal heat pumps can either be open- or closed loop. Open-loop systems draw well water for use as the heat source or heat sink, and after use, return the well water to a drainage field or another well. Closed-loop or earth-coupled systems use a water and antifreeze solution, circulated in a ground loop of pipe to extract heat from the earth.

Ground loops can be installed in a vertical well or a horizontal loop. Vertical wells are usually more expensive and used where space is limited. The length of loop pipe required will vary with soil type, loop configuration, and system capacity. Loop length can range from 100 to 300 meters per ton of capacity.

Special heat pump features can include variable speed blowers and multiple-speed compressors. These features can improve comfort and efficiency in areas where heating and cooling loads are quite different. Add-on features include the capability to produce hot water.

Desuperheaters can be added to supplement the production of domestic hot water when there is a demand for space heating or cooling. These devices make use of excess heat during the cooling cycle and use some of the heat during the heating cycle to supplement hot water production. Dedicated water heaters can be added which operate whenever there is a demand for hot water.

Geothermal heating can be more efficient than electric resistance heating. These systems are also typically more efficient than gas or oil-fired heating systems. They are more energy efficient than air-source heat pumps because they draw heat from, or release heat to, the earth, which has moderate temperatures year round, rather than to the air (which is generally colder in winter and warmer in summer than the earth, resulting in less effective heat transfer).

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Geothermal heating and cooling equipment is readily available in the marketplace and can be installed by any qualified contractor. The process is two-fold in that it involves installing the indoor unit and method of delivery, whether forced hot air or hydronic, and the outside pipe loop. Loop installation can be planned concurrently with other construction activities, so the overall construction schedule should not be affected by choice of system. Some loops will require an additional permit. Geothermal equipment can be installed with equal ease in both new construction and remodeling projects.

The initial cost of a geothermal heat pump system varies greatly according to local labor rates, lot geology and size, type of system installed, and equipment selected. So, geothermal heat pump systems are more costly to install than air source heat pumps. For either system, the cost of installed ducts should be identical. Equipment costs can be 50-100% more expensive for a geothermal heat pump system when the circulating pump, indoor tubing, and water source heat pump are considered. This 50-100% premium translates to $1,000 – $2,000 for the equipment that supplies a 3-ton system.

The ground loop is generally the most expensive component of a geothermal heat pump system and is highly dependent on local labor rates and drilling conditions. An installed ground loop stubbed out in a home can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 per installed ton. Overall, one could expect to pay between $4,000 and $11,000 more for a 3-ton GHP system than for an air source heat pump system.

Geothermal heat pumps offer high efficiency and low operating cost. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems. This information, as well as, reports that have been made by builders who monitor their in-place systems indicate that heating and cooling savings can range between $358 and $1,475, annually.

Geothermal heat pumps provide a high level of occupant comfort. There is a potential for utility bill savings, and many local utility companies provide incentives for investing in geothermal heat pumps.

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A refrigerant loop with a compressor extracts heat from one side (the ground) and pumps it to the heating loop in your home. It is essentially the same process that happens in your refrigerator: heat is extracted via a compressor and refrigerant loop from the inside of your refrigerator/freezer and rejected into your house.

In the summer the geothermal heat pump reverses its cycle, if you have an air-conditioning system, and heat from the home is rejected into the ground or ground water.

What makes geothermal heat pumps such a good choice for residential heating and cooling is that they do not depend on outside air temperatures. These heat pumps will heat your home as efficiently on a windy, zero-degree winter day as on a 40-degree day. Provided of course, that your house is well insulated and tight.

Geothermal heat pumps are also a very efficient way for heating and cooling your home. They use 25-50% less energy than conventional heating and cooling systems (Source: US DOE).

Residential applications of geothermal energy systems use water-to-water or water-to-air heat pumps.

Water-to-Water Geothermal Heat Pumps

Water-to-water geothermal heat pumps are generally used for heating only. They replace the gas or oil furnace that you might currently have to heat your home and water with.

It is important to know that heat pumps work most effectively when the temperature difference between the heat source (ground) and heat sink (floor heat or radiators) is small.

Ground temperatures range anywhere from 50 to 75 degF, depending on where you live. This means that geothermal heat pumps are generally not suitable for standard hot water baseboard applications, which are designed for heating water temperatures of 180 degF. Floor heat and low-temperature radiators require water temperatures in the range of 95 to 140 degF.

Some newer heat pump models are now equipped with so-called desuperheaters that can transfer excess heat from the geothermal heat pump compressor to the domestic water heater. Your geothermal heat pump can also effectively and quickly heat water for your bathtub, shower and sinks.

Water-To-Air Geothermal Heat Pumps

These types of ground source heat pumps are generally used when you need air conditioning. The Water is the heat sink, where you reject the heat from the house. The Air is the air that is distributed through your home via ductwork.

Otherwise, these heat pumps function the same way as water-to-water heat pumps. And again, the efficiency of a geothermal heating and cooling system is far better than that of a traditional system.

Important To Know

The first step towards making a geothermal heat pump system be a reliable and efficient heating (and cooling) system for your home is to minimize the heating and cooling requirements with a well-insulated building envelope and strategically placed windows for passive solar gain.

Not only is your first cost reduced, because your system will be smaller. You will also tremendously increase the comfort of your home.

Geothermal heat pump systems are best designed and installed by professionals. It is not recommended to DIY. These systems must meet specific requirements. Especially the piping laid out in the ground, or down to the ground water table, must be designed and installed correctly to ensure that your geothermal heat pump system works as intended.

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Product Description
Interest in residential geothermal systems has grown as more people realize they can replace their fossil-fuel heating system with one that is three to five times more efficient and doesn’t require a chimney to exhaust noxious fumes. These newer, safer systems provide heating as well as cooling simply by transferring heat between the home and the ground or a nearby body of water. Since this is a relatively new technology, the number of experienced installers is limited but growing. Therefore,there is a burden on homeowners interested in installing one of these systems to absorb as much information about residential geothermal systems as possible. This book was written specifically to meet that need.

Readers will learn how heat pumps are able to extract heat from relatively low temperature water circulating in ground loops and raise it to a temperature high enough to heat a home. They will also learn how to estimate the size of the heat pump required and the ground loop size as well for straight 2-pipe, 4-pipe, 6-pipe and Slinky loop configurations. This is important in order to verify that the installer correctly sizes the system. Both horizontal and vertical loop systems, for GX and DX, are covered.

Some of the technical issues that are addressed include: Loop water flow rates and Reynolds Number, heat of extraction/rejection, heating capacity, desuperheater setup, open-loop/closed-loop, SCW, pond loops, DX, Manual-J, COP. The final chapter consists of a set of flowcharts guiding the homeowner to ask the pertinent questions needed for a successful installation.

BUY: RESIDENTIAL GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS: Heating And Cooling Using The Ground Below

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