GO GREEN and SAVE! 

 

Simply the best way to heat and cool your facility or residence!

Geothermal heating and cooling offers dramatic savings when compared to other energy types.

 

 

How much energy can your dollar buy? **

Geothermal - Hydro Delta $ .07/KW	209,572 BTU's of energy per $1.00
Electric Resistance Heat $ .07/KW	48,737 BTU's of energy per $1.00
Natural Gas $1.71/therm	58,479 BTU's of energy per $1.00
Propane (LP Gas) $2.05/gallon	43,902 BTU's of energy per $1.00
Fuel Oil $2.65/gallon	44,905 BTU's of energy per $1.00

** Energy prices are as of September 9, 2005. Data is old so differentials vs geothermal are conservative.

Electric rate used is PECO marginal heating including PA sales tax.

 

NEWS!  The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 created new Federal tax credits for homeowners and businesses who install geothermal heat pump systems, was extended, and among other changes, the maximum credit for residential installations has been increased to 30% of the cost.   Expenditures up through 2016 are expected to be included.   Please see the U.S. Department of Energy web site for additional details regarding this program.   Please also see the first link on the Links page.

 

Geothermal characteristics ...

•  Cheaper - 30-70% heating and 20-50% cooling (vs operating cost of conventional systems)

•  Safer - no dangers of gas leaks or carbon monoxide poisoning

•  Less Maintenance - all equipment protected (indoors) or underground

•  Longer Life - typical life expectancy up to 30 years, ground loops 50 years

•  Comfort - no drafts, no low humidity or "dry heat" from combustion heating

•  Heat AND Cool - one system does it all

•  Efficient - geothermal heat pump can move >3 units heat energy for every single unit electrical energy

 

A word of caution though - geothermal systems MUST be properly and meticulously installed,

and by experienced and knowledgable professionals!!!

 

See pictures and project summary for a Jan 2009 geothermal project at Villanova

 

Heating and cooling via use of geothermal technology has been around a long time.  It essentially taps into the temperature of the earth below the frost line, thereby heating and cooling buildings at significant savings.   It's the world's most efficient way to heat and cool commercial buildings.

 

There are two types of such geothermal systems. Each taps the earth’s inexhaustible supply of renewable thermal energy, underground or underwater, where temperatures remain fairly moderate at 45°-55°F, year-round.  “Closed loop” systems use the earth as the heat transfer medium, employing a mixture of water and non-toxic antifreeze pumped through a continuous loop of sealed polyethylene pipes buried beneath the ground, vertically or horizontally. The mixture never comes in contact with the earth. “Open loop” systems draw water directly from a well and pump it through a heat exchanger at the geothermal heat pump, after which the water is returned to the source — just as clean as before.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency found that, even on a source fuel basis — accounting for all losses in the fuel cycle including electricity generation at power plants — geothermal systems average 40% greater efficiency than air source heat pumps, 48% greater efficiency than the best gas furnaces and 75% greater efficiency than oil furnaces.  Today’s best geothermal systems outperform the best gas technology, gas heat pumps, by an average of 36% in heating mode and 43% in cooling mode.

 

Traditional systems have two major shortcomings.  They heat or cool an entire building at once, with little or no ability to control comfort levels in individual rooms or zones.  Second, they occupy tremendous space both inside and outside the building.  A geothermal system creates an exceptionally comfortable working environment,  giving tenants or building occupants precise temperature control, by room or by zone. Humidity levels are ideal.  There’s no “blast” of hot air, or “cold blow.”  Temperatures don’t fluctuate, so thermostats don’t need constant adjustment.  Geothermal systems can compensate for morning or afternoon shade, heat buildup or temperature variance anywhere in a building.  Larger areas such as conference or banquet rooms, auditoriums, indoor pools or fitness centers can also be controlled by separate heat pumps — so there’s no need to heat or cool the rest of the building if these spaces are used only occasionally.  Geothermal systems are also much more compact than traditional systems, and out of sight.  Mechanical rooms can be smaller.  There are no boilers, smoke stacks or fuel tanks.  No massive rooftop chillers requiring added structural support, labor and construction costs.  No holes drilled in roofs to secure them either, reducing the risk of leaks. No above-ground equipment to be seen at all.  In fact, the surface above a ground loop can be used for parking lots, walking paths or courtyards — an added plus for communities that want to protect or expand precious green space. And because geothermal equipment is usually underground (wells and piping) and inside (heat pumps), it’s not exposed to damage from weather or vandals.

 

Dramatic cost savings are possible with geothermal systems.  Heat from the ground is free, and the only electricity needed is for moving that heat between your home and the ground.  Spending the money to install and operate a geothermal system can provide payback in typically three to five years!  Ground-source heat is a naturally renewable energy source and friendly to the environment.

And if you had such a system installed, how would you like to have virtually free hot water?  This is very possible!   An attachment called a “desuperheater” can be added to your system - this connects your heat pump to your water heater.  When the energy from the heat pump isn’t needed, it’s diverted to your water heater.  For most of the summer, you’ll be getting virtually free hot water!

 

 

 

 

There are multiple sources for additional information, among them the following:

www.ghpc.org	www.eren.doe.gov/geothermal
www.egi.utah.edu	www.igshpa.okstate.edu
geothermal.marin.org	www.geotherm.org

 

 

Our good partner in Darlington, MD, is Groundloop Inc Heating and Air Conditioning - call them at 410-836-1706. 

Their website also has excellent information regarding geothermal systems. www.groundloop.com

 

We work in Pennsylvania with Chelsea Heating and Air, Avondale, PA, for installation and maintenance of our

geothermal heating and air conditioning systems - check them out at www.chelseaair.com

 

In Delaware, Pennsylvania, and in Maryland we work closely with our friends

at Calvert Comfort - Wilmington, DE   (or call them at 302-998-0460)

 

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