Geothermal replacement solutions & HVAC systems are slowly but steadily becoming common features of eco-friendly homes & buildings throughout Connecticut. They emit no greenhouse gases, burn no fossil fuels & form an important part of the green building movement . 20-25% of all buildings built in US last year were green projects & Geothermal replacement solutions form an important part of the country's future energy strategy.
What are Geothermal replacement solutions ?
Geothermal HVAC use subterranean temperatures to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summers to buildings by using indoor handling unit and a buried system of pipes, called an earth loop which transmit energy between the earth & ground structures . The transfer is maintained taking advantage of the earth’s constant underground temperature nearly 30 feet below the surface.
Every Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems has three major subsystems or parts:
1. A geothermal heat pump to move heat between the building and the fluid in the earth connection
2. An earth connection for transferring heat between its fluid and the earth
3. Distribution subsystem for delivering heating or cooling to the building.
Additionally a system may also have a desuperheater to supplement the building's water heater, or a full-demand water heater to meet all of the
building's hot water needs.
How it works
In winter, fluid circulating through the system’s earth loop absorbs stored heat from the ground & carries it to an indoor unit which compresses the heat to a higher temperature and distributes it throughout the building . In summer, heat is pulled from the building and passed on via the earth loop to reinjection well & finally back to the earth . This 2 way heat transfer process ensures that a constant temperature is maintained throughout the year.
History
The first successful Geothermal commercial project was installed in the Commonwealth Building (Portland, Oregon) in 1948. Since then Nordic
countries like Sweden & Finland have adopted this technology for commercial uses. The development of polybutylene pipe in 1979 made
closed loop systems economically viable & today 40% of Sweden’s standalone houses use this technology while construction.
Efficiency
The net thermal efficiency of a heat pump should take into account the efficiency of electricity generation and transmission, typically about
30%. Since a heat pump moves three to five times more heat energy than the electric energy it consumes, the total energy output is much
greater than the electrical input. This results in net thermal efficiencies greater than 300% as compared to radiant electric heat being 100%
efficient. They are much more efficient than air source heat pumps because earth temperatures are much more uniform through the year
than air temperatures.
Costing
Geothermal solutions are slightly more expensive than traditional methods & it takes a certain number of years to totally recover their costs
but the investment is worth it. Think of GHPs as a long-term investment. They’re built to last and have extremely long life spans. Expect to get
around 25 years out of GHP indoor components and 50-plus years for ground loops. They are are up to 65% more efficient than traditional
HVAC units and pay themselves back over time in energy savings—typically within 10 years.
Geothermal vs Other Renewable Energy sources
Geothermal solutions are up to four times more effective than sources like Wind energy & Oceanic energy . The fact that they can be installed at
any location with little requirements of the landscape & provide fairly consistent results ( as earth’s temperature always remains constant
below 30 feet ) makes them a superior choice. The other benefit of a geothermal heating and cooling system is that they last a long time. The
ground loop has a lifespan of 25-50 years, and the heat pump has a lifespan of 20-25 years. With this much durability, it is very possible to
have air conditioning (and heating) in Connecticut for a full generation.
Environmental Impact
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called ground source heat pumps the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and
cost-effective space conditioning systems available. Heat pumps offer significant emission reductions potential, particularly where they are
used for both heating and cooling and where the electricity is produced from renewable resources.
Maintenance & Installation
One advantage of these systems is the low maintenance required. Since all the major units are installed indoors, they are immune to weather &
corrosive effects . The quality of piping & loop material is a big factor while installing these systems. A comprehensive and detailed analysis is required before installing these systems.
Why choose Encon for your Geothermal system needs ?
ENCON’s reputation is built on a commitment to providing 100% customer satisfaction. We are so confident in our commitment to
excellence that we are willing to put our promise in writing. We promise to:
● Stand 100% behind all of our workmanship.
● Not rest in our efforts to assure that you receive a positive service experience.
● Make every effort to restore system operations, on the same day, if
you are one of our maintenance plan customers and experience a breakdown.
● Assign qualified and properly licensed technicians to your account.
● Continue to maintain high standards and employ the industry’s best professionals.
● Provide advanced training to keep our staff up to date with the latest technology.
Contact us to start your geothermal replacement project!