Geothermal
Earth’s Energy Solution
Craig A. Watts PE, LEED AP
Principal at MKK Consulting Engineers
•Consulting for 20 years
•Numerous Geothermal projects
•Multiple LEED Certified Projects
Geo 101
While the Earth
travels through
Space…..
Geo 101
…it absorbs Energy from the Sun
Geo 101
This natural Energy Collection and
Storage System captures nearly
half of the Solar Energy falling on
Earth…
…thus maintaining a nearly
Constant Temperature throughout
the year just below the surface
Geo 101
Earth Energy ….It’s not New
•Earth Energy System was Patented in
1912 in Switzerland
•Residential System installed in
Canada in 1950
Geo 101
Heat Pumps Systems are Reliable
Mr. Bill Loosley installed geothermal system
in his home in Burlington, ON in 1950
Geo 101
Compressor was initially
powered by hand crank
diesel motor… changed to
electric motor (still being
used!!) in 1953 when his
wife couldn’t start it
Heat Pump Systems
are Reliable
Geo 101
Geothermal Heat Pump Systems
combine Sun, Earth and Water
using proven technology…
… to create “the most energy-efficient,
environmentally clean, and cost-effective spaceconditioning system”
(according to U.S. EPA 1993)
Geo 101
Geothermal Heat
Pump Basis Principals
Geothermal Heat Pump Efficiency
One unit of energy
from the grid
Yields:
4-6 units of energy
for the building
Plus:
3-5 units of energy
from the earth
400-600% Efficient
Geothermal Heat Pump
Installation Methods
Vertical Closed-Loop
A pair of pipes with a special U-bend assembly at
the bottom is placed into bore holes from 150 to
400 feet deep
Horizontal Closed-Loop
A piping array is installed in trenches
cut 3 to 5 feet deep and hundreds of
feet in length
Surface Water ClosedLoop
A piping array is submerged in
a pond or lake at least 8 feet
deep
Ground Water
Open-Loop
Well water from an
underground aquifer is pumped
through the geothermal heat
pump and then returned to the
aquifer or discharged to the
surface
GSHP Systems
• GeoExchange systems can go in
anywhere, but….
– The design team must understand the
building requirements
– Assess the site before advancing to the design
stage
– Utilize existing site resources to enhance the
system and reduce installation costs
– Be aware of regional geology and contractor
assets/capabilities
What kind of applications
can utilize a GSHP system?
Recreation Facilities
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, Port
Hawkesbury, NS
265 tons
Horizontal loop
East Bayfield Recreation
Centre, Barrie, ON
480 tons
Vertical loop
Commercial Office Buildings
Mission Centre Offices
Kelowna, BC
120 tons, vertical loop
Smith Carter Architects
Winnipeg, MB
40 tons, open well loop
The Heart Doctors
Rapid City SD
48 tons, vertical loop
Commercial Office Buildings
Manitoba Hydro Office Building
Winnipeg, MB
800 tons
Vertical GHX (under building)
Courtesy of Practical GeoExchange Solutions
Churches
The new building of 6,340
sq. ft. (589 m2). Warm
water for a radiant floor
heat system is supplied by a
water-water heat pump.
Chilled water is supplied to
fan coil to provide cooling.
Thermal ice storage
integrated with a 12-ton
geothermal system provides
26 tons of cooling
Retail Stores
South East Farm Equipment
dealership is a 40,000 square
foot building with repair
garage.
Open well system provides
heating and cooling.
Museums
Canadian Museum of
Civilization, Ottawa, ON
3,200 tons
Open surface water loop
Grey County Museum
Owen Sound, ON
120 tons, Horizontal loop
Canadian War Museum
Ottawa, ON
Medical Facilities
Great River Medical Center,
Burlington IA
1,500 tons
Pond & vertical loop
Courtesy of Practical GeoExchange
Solutions
Schools
Robert Stockton
College
Pomona, NJ
1,740 tons
Vertical loop, 22
buildings
Courtesy of Practical GeoExchange Solutions
Manufacturing
Chaco Manufacturing
Product: Sport footwear
22,500 sf facility
(in process of
expanding)
Paonia, CO
40 tons
Vertical loop, 32 bores x
250’
Terry Proffer
Designed by Terry Proffer
Convenience Stores, Restaurants
Conoco / Wendy’s, Frisco, CO
40 tons water to water & water to air
provides space conditioning, domestic hot
water, snowmelt and radiant floor heating
Heat recovery to GHX from store
refrigeration
54 x 400’ vertical bores
Dual bay car wash
60 tons water to water heat pump
Snowmelt at vehicle entry and exit
Auxiliary gas boiler for snowmelt to account
for unknown durations
Designed by Major Geothermal
Installed by Major Heating
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• What is the typical
payback for a
geothermal system?
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• What is the typical
payback for a
geothermal system?
• There isn’t one!!
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
•What the
&#** !!!
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• The reason why, is
there are so many
variations of
geothermal systems.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• What you will need to
know to do a
comparison ?
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• First Cost
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• First Cost
• Operational Cost
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• First Cost
• Operational Cost
• Maintenance Cost
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• First Cost
• Operational Cost
• Maintenance Cost
• Energy Cost
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• First Cost
• Operational Cost
• Maintenance Cost
• Energy Cost
• Replacement Cost
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
• Example
Study done in 2006
Typical Office Building: Comparing these
systems
• RTU w/ Gas heat & DX
cooling
• Air-source Heat Pumps
• Geothermal Heat Pumps
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
HVAC
System
First
Cost
Annual
Annual
Energy
Maintenance
1.
RTU
$114,610
$8,226
$4,476
2.
AS HP
$139,824
$6,803
$4,069
3.
Geo HP
$160,600
$3,852
$1,899
Periodic
Cost
$40,000
Year 17
$50,000
Year 17
$30,000
Year 20
NP Value of
30 yr LifeCycle Cost
$299,020
$301,922
$245,634
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
In terms of simple annual cash flows, the
Geothermal HP system has a simple payback
of 6.6 years and 4.1 years with respect to the
RTU and Air-Source HP systems.
Neglecting the annual maintenance cost and
only considering the energy savings, the
simple payback is 10.5 years and 7.0 years
with respect to the RTU and Air-Source HP
systems.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Another benefit:
The use of the Geothermal HP system can
reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions
by 15 tons of CO2 equivalent over RTU’s w/
gas heat and 33 tons of CO2 equivalent over
the use of air source heat pumps
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Simple payback:
The difference in first cost divided by the energy
savings per year equals the number of years
to recover the initial investment.
First cost difference = $100,000
Annual energy savings = $12,000
Simple payback = $100,000 / $12,000 =
8.33 years
Geothermal Heat Pump
Advantages
Proven Technology
•Millions of units installed world-wide in commercial
and residential applications
Most Energy-Efficient and
Environmentally Friendly HVAC System
Widely Available
•Water is a better heat transfer medium than air
•Heat exchange loops tap the renewable energy of
the Earth
No Fossil Fuel
•Improves safety
•Eliminates service lines, flues, outside air intakes
•No site emissions
No Outdoor Units
•Better aesthetics
•No noise
•No vandalism or theft concerns
Long Equipment Life
•Factory sealed systems
•Indoor installation – no exposure to the elements
•Moderate compressor loading vs. air-source systems
Self Contained Compact Units
•Easy to install within the building
•Upflow, horizontal, or downflow single-package units
•Split system and water-to-water units available
Geothermal Heat Pumps
are one of the Most Effective
and Deployable
and…
… produce the lowest carbon dioxide emissions,
including all source effects, of all available
space-conditioning technologies
(EPA, 1993)
Using a Single Geothermal Heat Pump
is Equivalent to
Planting an Acre of Trees
Using A Single Geothermal Heat Pump
Is Equivalent to
Taking Two Cars off the Road
Case Study
• The Sanctuary Club House and
Condominiums
Case Study
• The Sanctuary Clubhouse and Condo’s
25 High-end Fractional ownership condominiums
Geothermal Lake loop system in affluent pond
(poop-loop)
Water-to-Water heat pumps serving terminal
water-to-air heat pumps in units
No boiler or Chiller needed (noise and aesthetics)
LEED Certified Silver Clubhouse
Used no CFC or HCFC refrigerants
Case Study
• The Sanctuary Clubhouse and Condo’s
Performance
Cut gas bill by 90% compared to the heating
only system used in Phase one
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
• Greybull Elementary School
Case Study
• Greybull Elementary School
36,000 SF
Horizontal ground loop
Air to Air Heat Recovery Units
No boiler or Chiller needed (noise and aesthetics)
Registered for LEED NC Silver
Used no CFC or HCFC refrigerants
Exceeded ASHRAE 90.1 by 38%
Case Study
Case Study
Case Study
• Range View Elementary School
Severance, CO
Case Study
Case Study
• Range View Elementary School
64,189 SF
Horizontal ground loop
DOSA Energy Recovery Units
No boiler or Chiller needed (noise and aesthetics)
Used no CFC or HCFC refrigerants
Exceeded ASHRAE 90.1 by 45%
Other Applications of GSHP
Technology
• Large domestic water supply lines
Other Applications of GSHP
Technology
• Large domestic water supply lines
• Ski area Snow melting/ Snow making
Other Applications of GSHP
Technology
• Large domestic water supply lines
• Ski area Snow melting/ Snow making
• Oceans, lakes and rivers
Other Applications of GSHP
Technology
• Large domestic water supply lines
• Ski area Snow melting/ Snow making
• Oceans, lakes and rivers
• Integrated into structure of building
Municipal and School District
Planning
• High Schools with pools
Municipal and School District
Planning
• High Schools with pools
• Ice rinks and Recreation Centers
Municipal and School District
Planning
• High Schools with pools
• Ice rinks and Recreation Centers
• Waste Water Treatment Plants
Municipal and School District
Planning
• High Schools with pools
• Ice rinks and Recreation Centers
• Waste Water Treatment Plants
• Indoor water parks
Municipal and School District
Planning
• High Schools with pools
• Ice rinks and Recreation Centers
• Waste Water Treatment Plants
• Indoor water parks
• Large domestic water usage
Innovate, be creative!
Questions
Contact information
Craig A. Watts
Principal
MKK Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Office PH 303-796-6005
Cell Ph 303-523-6086
Email cwatts@mkkeng.com