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  • The Geothermal Energy Transition

    The Geothermal Energy Transition

    Have you ever heard the term Beneficial electrification (or strategic electrification)? It’s a popular term for replacing fossil fuel use (e.g., propane, heating oil, natural gas) with electricity. Utilizing electricity for the purposes of heating and cooling emits fewer pollutants than onsite combustion of fossil fuels and is better for our environment. Climate change, finite resources and the need to eliminate the concentration of carbon and other toxic emissions in the atmosphere are critical drivers of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable technologies, which is important to everyone.

    Geothermal and air source heat pumps will play significant roles in beneficial electrification. Electricity will replace the burning of fossil fuels for heating and substantially reduce pollutants. The efficiencies of these heat pumps will reduce the overall demand for electricity for cooling.  This reduced demand for electricity will help relieve the growing demand on the electrical power grid.

    Utility companies have become very interested in promoting these heat pumps because this technology flattens the demand curve, more fully utilizes their generation equipment, assists in meeting emission reduction targets, and increases profit. Geothermal heat pumps reduce the electrical demand during peak periods, preventing brown outs or grid failure, and increase electricity use during off peak times.  In fact, many utility companies are offering rebates and financial incentives to encourage the transition to geothermal and air source heat pumps.

    The energy transition is underway. As the world changes from using finite resources that pollute the air to renewable, clean technologies, geothermal heat pumps will play a significant role. Are you ready for the future?

  • Storing Heat

    Storing Heat

    It’s no secret that geothermal heating and cooling systems are good for your building, your budget, and the environment by utilizing thermal energy storage.

    Thermal energy storage is a system where the battery is always charged, so to speak. It captures heat energy from the building to use when cooling is needed and returns heat to the building when warmth is required.

  • Are You Wasting Resources You Already Pay For?

    Are You Wasting Resources You Already Pay For?

    The movement of heat energy to and from a building is important in the heating and cooling process. A properly engineered geothermal system takes into account the entire building from the standpoint of heat sources and sinks, and efficiently moves heat that already exists throughout the building.
    It is commonly understood that geothermal systems move heat from the earth to the building when there is a heating need and from the building to the ground during cooling. However, there are other ways heat can be moved around that maximize energy savings and often reduce the overall system’s capital costs. Do you know how that’s done?
    Most commercial buildings are cooling dominant. This means that over the course of a year there will be more heat energy rejected than absorbed. If the amount of heat rejected can be balanced with what will be needed later, the size and cost of the outside heat exchanger can be greatly reduced.
    How can this excess heat energy be used? Many commercial buildings have a significant need for domestic hot water – including bathrooms, locker rooms, kitchens, and laundry. Geothermal heat pumps can use the heat absorbed from space conditioning to generate nearly free hot water. Why buy more energy to produce hot water when excess heat energy is being wasted?
    Additionally, excess building heat energy can be used to generate the hot water needed for radiant and snow melt systems. With radiant systems, heat can be moved from the core areas of a building, where cooling may be required year-round, to the perimeter areas of the building where there may be heat loss through walls and windows. With snow melt systems, the excess heat energy can be used to melt snow and ice on sidewalks and driveways.
    In situations where a building is heating dominant, there may be additional opportunities to capture heat and move it to the building for space conditioning or hot water generation.
    When excess heat energy is generated, but not immediately needed, it can be moved to the ground and stored for later use. What kinds of heat movement does your building need? Are you taking advantage of this free resource?

  • Carbon Emissions: What Are You Doing To Eliminate Them?

    Carbon Emissions: What Are You Doing To Eliminate Them?

     

    The use of geothermal technology helps positively impact the health of the environment through the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

    Geothermal systems do not use the combustion process for heating and cooling, dramatically reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. Consequently, most geothermal systems emit close to zero carbon emissions, helping all of us move closer to a sustainable society and a cleaner tomorrow

  • Mother Nature, Energy the Way it was Intended

    Mother Nature, Energy the Way it was Intended

    When it comes to heating and cooling a building, you want the best system for you, your company, your community and the planet. The best system is the one that utilizes the resources Mother Nature already provided.

    Geothermal heating and cooling systems take advantage of the energy we already have in the ground. These systems maximize the energy, conserve our resources, and lower the costs.

    Using this preexisting and natural occurring renewable energy source reduces our use and dependence on fossil fuels. When properly leveraged, geothermal energy provides a far more stable and cost-effective source of energy.

    Why squander funds for environmentally hazardous fossil fuels when you are standing on a naturally existing and sustainable energy source? Invest wisely and move this energy from the ground to your building.

    Sit back, relax and let Mother Nature provide your heating and cooling the way she intended – with geothermal.

  • Geothermal Advantages

    Geothermal Advantages

    There are many advantages to using modern geothermal systems as an alternative to conventional HVAC.  The geothermal systems of today are simple, highly effective and will last decades when designed, installed and maintained properly. Advances in design simulation and modeling software have made it possible to accurately “right – size” ground loop heat exchangers keeping initial capital costs minimized while optimizing building performance. 

     Geothermal heat pumps have an average 20 to 25 year life expectancy while the ground loop infrastructure will reliably perform for 50 to 100 years. The piping network, located in the ground, is constructed of robust highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) or cross-linked PEXa material and is not exposed to the elements. Other system components are located inside the building, protected from adverse weather, and require minimal maintenance compared to conventional equipmentGround loop systems are specifically configured to accommodate the space available, the building requirements and the local climate. Geothermal systems provide owners with extended equipment life cycles that drastically reduce replacement schedules and minimize operational costs. Proper design, periodic maintenance and continual monitoring ensure that the system continues to operate at peak efficiency and provide the performance expected by owners. 

     It is advantageous to have a system that can be relied on for decades that is environmentally friendly, economical and provides a comfortable building environment. 

  • What’s preventing the universal acceptance of geothermal energy?

    What’s preventing the universal acceptance of geothermal energy?

     

    Some people think the initial installation costs for geothermal are too high. This is no longer accurate. For example, installing a geothermal hybrid solution often costs less than a traditional HVAC system. Today’s hybrid geothermal systems incorporate the best technologies and practices of the geothermal and HVAC industries, greatly reduce CO2 emissions, and reduce energy costs by 25-60% over the lifetime of the building. Any additional costs resulting from selecting geothermal are offset within the first couple of years of ownership through reduced operation and maintenance costs.

    Additionally, many governments around the world, including the United States, have implemented tax incentives and credits that make geothermal energy even more attractive.

  • Technology that monitors and “re-programs” underperforming systems

    Technology that monitors and “re-programs” underperforming systems

    Underperforming geothermal systems are not just frustrating, they waste money and resources and are the number one cause of nuisance equipment lockouts.

    You need software that alerts you when your system has issues that must be addressed.

    Monitoring software continuously tracks energy consumption and heating, ventilation and air conditioning performance. Issues can be detected in real time. Data is translated into online dashboards that operators can use to get 360-degree visibility of what is happening with their HVAC equipment, enabling on and off-site troubleshooting with alarms and notification capabilities for sudden spikes to catch anomalous under performance. Additionally, this software allows you to look at your system, see how you use it and shows you where you may have room for additional functionality.

    Rescue software expands monitoring software by using algorithims to predict when issues are going to arise and proactively adjusts the system’s  functionality. It keeps your equipment operating at peak capacity, optimizes energy consumption, and reduces maintenance costs.

    Monitoring and Rescue software solutions return an underperforming system to optimal performance.

  • Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

    Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

    What are the benefits of using artificial intelligence (AI) software in the operation of your geothermal heating and cooling system?

    The application of AI software in the operation and use of your geothermal heating and cooling system transforms it into a smarter, more efficient, easier to operate a system, and has the potential to save you money.

    How does this happen? AI software is constantly learning. During day-to-day operation, the software is gathering and logging data, learning about the specific environment, and adjusting for the fluctuations of that environment to maintain indoor air comfort. This, in effect, makes your system smarter in year two of its operation than it was during year one. Why’s that? The system starts out with little to no information when it begins to operate. As the system operates, AI software continually gathers information and adds to its “intelligence”. It can then access large data sets and use that information to operate optimally. By learning historical usage patterns and how to deal with the real-time conditions that are present, the AI software adjusts to maintain the desired building temperature. It adapts. It adjusts. It learns.

    Artificial intelligence software also makes your system easier to use because it is not dependent on a maintenance professional to be present to flip a switch or plug something in. The system can be monitored and /or controlled remotely, by a phone or smart device so that adjustments can be made quickly and from anywhere. Additionally, AI software is programmed to alert you to potential trouble spots if and when they occur, so you don’t continue to operate a system that is not working at its peak.

    Employing the use of artificial intelligence software in the operation of your geothermal heating and cooling system is the perfect way to create a system that operates smarter, easier and saves money.