RPM Mechanical is an accredited IGSHPA member and is involved in the newest technologies coming out of the geo industry, providing our customers with the knowledge base to recommend the best equipment for any given project. Any heating system we install is properly sized to account for efficiency, longevity and comfort.
geo-exchange Systems
The Earth is a huge energy-storage device. It absorbs 47 percent of the sun's energy - more than 500 times the amount mankind needs every year.
The sun's heat acts as an enormous battery. Geo-exchange taps this battery.
Geo-exchange extracts heat from the ground during the heating season and rejects it during the cooling season by putting it back into the ground.
In Colorado, the Earth's temperature is approximately 55 degrees. There are two ways to distribute this heat from the ground to buildings - in-floor radiant or forced-air.
When applied to in-floor radiant heating systems geo-exchange units can reach very high levels of efficiency. The lower temperatures for in-floor heating the higher the efficiencies we can reach from the units. Conductive floor coverings like tile, stone or stained concrete are best when applied to these types of systems. The cooling needs of the home can be accounted for by forced air or in-floor radiant cooling systems. This new technology provides the majority of cooling by running cool water through the in-floor system. While it has limitations, this technology can be a very good option for buildings with a small cooling load.
One very important consideration when installing a geo-exchange system - knowing how much energy is needed to extract heat from the ground or expel it into the ground to achieve high levels of efficiency and comfort.
Highlights:
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency, geo-exchange is the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning system available.
- The EPA found that geo-exchange systems can reduce energy consumption and corresponding emissions by over 40 percent compared to air-source heat pumps, and by over 70 percent compared to electric resistance heating with standard air-conditioning equipment. Combining geo-exchange with other energy-efficient measures, such as window or insulation upgrades, can increase these savings even further.
- Energy costs with geo-exchange typically are 25 to 50 percent less than other HVAC systems.
- Today, more than 650,000 geothermal heat pump units are installed in the U.S. Those 650,000 installations are equivalent to:
- Taking 840,000 cars off the road
- Planting 250 million trees
- Reducing U.S. reliance on imported fuels by 14 million barrels of crude oil per year
- Because they burn no fossil fuels on site, geo-exchange systems generate virtually no carbon dioxide emissions.
- For businesses, geo-exchange systems provide architects with optimal design flexibility because the roof and landscape are free of chillers, air handlers and other outdoor equipment. In addition, with geo-exchange systems, boiler rooms can be eliminated and the size of mechanical rooms can be reduced.
- Geo-exchange systems have a lower life-cycle cost than conventional systems . even in hot, humid regions where the demand for air conditioning is high. Geo-exchange systems also have long equipment life (20+ years).
- These systems are also eligible for a 30 percent tax credit up to the entire cost of the system.
Domestic Hot Water and Geo-exchange
In addition to the high efficiencies of geo-exchange systems, there is the option to add a desuperheater.
A desuperheater is an additional component installed in the geo-exchange unit to extract some of the heat for preheating a home's domestic hot water. Desuperheaters are a great addition to any geo-exchange system. They work especially well in applications where there is a heating and cooling load.
In a typical home, desuperheaters can account for over 50 percent of the home's domestic hot water.
During the cooling season, the heat that is extracted is essentially free. The geo-exchange unit is removing heat and expelling it into the ground.
During the heating season, the geo-exchange unit continues to produce hot water much more efficiently then conventional water heaters.
Current tax credits require the installation of a desuperheater for eligibility.
Ground Loops
The main difference between geo-exchange systems and conventional systems is the ground loop.
Ground loops can be installed in long horizontal trenches, Slinky-like trenches, or pond loops, or they can be drilled vertically into the ground. Depending on the situation, some installations are easier or more cost effective than others.
RPM typically installs horizontal trench geo-exchange systems or vertical systems. Regardless of how the ground loop is installed, each ground loop is sized for the individual project.