Geothermal Heating and Cooling

rcooke · January 4, 2017, 3:31pm

http://www.waterfurnace.com/how-it-works.aspx

5 minutes of interesting information

GeothermalHeating and Cooling
No matter what climate you live in, the temperature throughout the yearvaries. For some climates that means blazing summers that cool to frigidwinters. What many people don’t realize is that the temperature below ground(regardless of climate or season) stays fairly consistent all year.

The ground is able to maintain a higher rate of temperature consistency becauseit absorbs 47% of the suns energy (heat) as it hits the Earth’s surface.WaterFurnace geothermalsystems](http://www.waterfurnace.com/benefits.aspx) are able to tap into this free energy with an earth loop. Thistechnology is then used to provide your home or office with central heating andcooling.

https://www.nachi.org/forum/data:image/png;base64,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Geothermal Heating
During the heating cycle, a WaterFurnace geothermal heatpump](http://www.waterfurnace.com/geothermal-heat-pumps.aspx) uses the earth loop to extract heat from the ground. As thesystem pulls heat from the loop it distributes it through a conventional ductsystem as warm air. The same heat energy can also be used for a radiant floorsystem or domestic hot water heating.

clawrenson · January 4, 2017, 4:32pm

Thanks Roy - here’s another view to consider.

rcooke · January 4, 2017, 4:35pm

Great addition thanks Claude.

I have two friends who have lots of open space who seem very pleased with their systems

linkster · January 4, 2017, 4:56pm

Nice information Roy and Claude. Interesting to note the installation cost is thought to be high at $10K-$20K.

A good Carrier A/C will cost as much as $6k plus installation, a Furnace another $2,750. Then when you add in the fuel and maintenance costs, $20K over 25 years doesn’t seem such a negative.

I had a quick giggle at the Pros and Cons from Claude’s link.

One of the Pro’s for GTE “Environmentally friendly compared to gas or oil furnaces (no combustion).”
Two of the Con’s “Geothermal energy using wells requires an incredible usage of water.” and “Discharge into the Earth could include sulfur dioxide and silica”

Are these not contradictory of each other?

Interesting point though, as Home Inspectors are we to inspect these systems and if so how?

eschmidt · January 4, 2017, 6:08pm

I saw a presentation on geothermal at our (Alberta ACHI) annual general meeting, IMO geothermal is not yet ready for prime time, and I am having trouble in finding the efficiency.
Geothermal is in its infancy, bugs remain to be worked out. Some of the early adopters are having the usual problems, discovering how to do stuff right after the fact.
The problems as I see it, the systems are overly complex and require a lot of maintenance. Holes are drilled in the ground, essentially wells, maybe 200 feet deep. plastic piping is put in and the holes are filled in again. The pipes are filled with a liquid, a water antifreeze mix usually. This has to be circulated, a heat exchanger using refrigeration/heat pump technology extracts the heat. Leaks may occur, liquid is lost, (what happens to it?) or worst case, the pipes can no longer be used. Heat is transferred to another liquid based system which then goes to a heat exchanger to heat air or a radiator. So heat is transferred from the ground to a liquid, to another liquid, to the air. The second law of thermodynamics informs us that there will be losses with every energy transfer.
The guy who gave the presentation said that the ground heat is actually coming from the sun, the sun warms up the ground in summer, so the heat is not coming from the earth’s core as it does in Iceland or a mountain hot spring. There are simpler ways to trap heat from the sun, like a thermal mass.

rcooke · January 4, 2017, 6:21pm

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/guest-blogs/my-earth-tube-story

Here is information from anengineer who has gone the whole route . much information on ground heat

0 Helpful?
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My Earth Tube Story
Buried ventilation ducts represent an absurdly simple andcheap source of limitless free energy
Posted on Apr 22 2014 by Malcolm Isaacs

Image 1 of 9
Buried ventilation ducts take advantage of the fact that theearth is warmer than the air during winter months. When ventilation air ispulled through buried ducts in January, heat from the surrounding soil warms upthe air before it enters the house. The concrete blocks help protect the PVCducts from damage by heavy excavation equipment.
I saw my first “earth tube” back in 2004, on a tour of rowhouses in Darmstadt, Germany — a tour which had been organized by thePassivhaus Institut (PHI) to show international visitors some examples ofPassivhaus construction. As a visiting Canadian engineer specializing inresidential energy efficiency, this was a novel and, for me, unheard-of way totemper incoming ventilation air from extremes of heat and cold.
As Dr.Wolfgang Feist, PHI founder and our tour leader thatday, explained, “The efficiencies of this approach are extremely high… Theseearth tubes generally work very well, but they have to be installed correctlyor you can have problems.”
Condensation and mold
Bad news travels fast, and it only takes one “problem” houseto undo a lot of good work. During the past ten years in Europe, more than oneearth tube was incorrectly installed, leading to pooling of condensate insummer, local mold growth, and major downstream problems with the incoming airquality.

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mgratton · January 4, 2017, 6:31pm

Electricity cost at .214 per KWH in Ontario does not make geothermal worthwhile.

rcooke · January 4, 2017, 6:35pm

Interesting is that you opinion or can you supply some facts to verifier this post.

mgratton · January 4, 2017, 10:59pm

That is my opinion as much information needs to be considered when comparing various systems in different areas for an accurate result (e.g. efficiency of the system, energy cost, building, …).

I made a Energy Cost Calculator using Excel based on A Guide to Residential Wood Heating from CMHC where you can adjust data and get an instant result as to energy costs for heating in your area.

It won’t upload so anyone interested in a copy, send me an email.

rcooke · January 4, 2017, 11:08pm

Thanks Marcel .

ryoung7 · January 4, 2017, 11:27pm

I did an inspection for an engineer’s son two years back. The father, an engineer, passed all provincial hurdles with his design of a working model to use in sewers.

It is energy efficient to heat or cool liquid if the starting or base temperature is 56-58f.

Good post Roy and Claude.

rcooke · January 4, 2017, 11:35pm

Had a Friend who did this about 50~ years ago . I had little idea what he had but it heated his home .This was when it was legal to pull water from a well and send it down another well .
I have two friends who have modern systems and they are pleased , One has a huge home and the cost was high to put it in but he very satisfied .

jbelrose · January 5, 2017, 12:14am

I saw a system this summer that was a closed loop. It had an oversized well and the water went back into the well for eventual recirculation. They installed a valve to turn it into a open loop system when they wanted to dump water. Which they did in a retention pond nearby. It was a 5000 ft.2 home with 2 units. One unit was larger. About $70,000 total. They off set electrical costs with solar, had a generator and two pellet stoves for back up. Was a nice system, nearly zero energy costs to run because of the solar. But definitely rare and not prevalent here yet.

rcooke · January 5, 2017, 12:34am

Thanks it is people like this who help all of us with their trying new things .

I see some places in USA are giving out for free Solar systems .

Eventually we all might like what can be done .

I have a friend who is so far of the road that solar has worked very well for him He can get internet and cell phone but not hydro .

jbelrose · January 5, 2017, 1:18am

I looked into doing it. It is not free necessarily. There are a range of plans. For my system, it would have cost $31,000 if I bought the equipment. That is the best way to actually get ahead with it. I wanted to zero out. I couldn’t do it. In any plan and at best, would only save $10 per month on my bill. Companies really have figured out how to take all of the power that your home produces and sell it to utilities for their own profit. Unless you build out your own system, you really don’t get ahead. Solar City has been signing a lot of folks up and have also been adding panels to roofs in questionable condition. But Solar panel inspection will become a large part of the inspection industry soon. Definitely in the next 10-15 years.

rcooke · January 5, 2017, 1:44am

I have 8,000 watts on my roof Works well for us .

mgratton · January 5, 2017, 5:01am

How does it performs with all the snow and freezing rain of late?

eschmidt · January 5, 2017, 4:15pm

[quote=“rcooke, post:6, topic:112655”]

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/guest-blogs/my-earth-tube-story

Here is information from anengineer who has gone the whole route . much information on ground heat

Nice, personally I think good design has to be un complicated. Air to ground heat exchange saves a lot of steps compared to the way they do geo thermal here. Might be hard to deploy in the typical new development here where the lot is not much bigger than the house though.

pauriol · January 5, 2017, 4:34pm

[quote=“eschmidt, post:18, topic:112655”]

Totally agree! The design should be of a simple format.

We installed a system during the Habitat for Humanity build at the end of the street and locating the underground piping in a suitable location was a challenge. Can only imagine the costs of operation with the electrical rates the way they are now…

Best regards,
Pat