Earth Energy
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Ground Source Heat Pump
At a glance |
With the cost of energy steadily increasing, finding ways of reducing energy use and alternate energy sources is becoming increasingly important. Ground source heat pumps have been around since the turn of the century and have been used widely in Europe . The economics are driving the geothermal industry growth by 30-40% per year. Today’s geothermal installations are not only cost-effective, they are also comfortable, quiet and environmentally friendly.
The agricultural sector is an ideal candidate for geothermal technology. Access to a sufficient amount of land is generally not a problem and electricity is available on-site. The energy from the ground loop can be transferred to the farm residence, workshops, storage shops, pig barns and many other applications in the agricultural sector. Installing geothermal energy in the farming sector can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 70% in some cases, which will bring down the operating costs and thus increase revenue.
Single-phase power is common for farms, but we are seeing more three-phase power brought to the yards with higher electrical load. Single-phase ground source heat pumps are limited to about 60,000 Btu/h (32°F EWT) output and with the larger farm loads, multiple units must be used. In farmyards that have three-phase power, larger geothermal equipment can be used. (A 1400-sq. ft. bungalow with a full basement would require approximately 30,000 to 35,000 Btu/h or a 40 X 60 shop with R20 walls and R40 ceiling and insulated slab would require approximately 40,000 to 50,000 Btu/h without any ventilation load.)
As energy costs continue to rise and emissions into the environment continue to be of great concern, selecting and installing geothermal equipment is not only a good monetary decision for the owner, but it is also a good environmental decision for the community.
A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study found that a geothermal system has lower total emissions, even when the emissions produced at the electric generating plant are included in the calculations.
Today, a geothermal system should be considered for any structure with a heating and/or cooling load.
Modified: 05-13-2008
