Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: geothermal heat pumps

[Merlin Porter-Border (merlpb]

The "geothermal" part of an HVAC system is the heat exchange in the ground and 
in
the main unit.  The installation of the in-the-ground part should be done by 
well
trained, experienced tradespersons.  But it is not brain surgery.  With any 
"new"
technology, as Cynthia (Cambridge) said, there are those who know how and those 
who
are on the learning curve.  Yes, beware of those on the learning curve.

The rest of any HVAC system, especially the air diffuser method, has been 
around a
long time, but can be screwed up badly.  It is not the geothermal part.  Complex
buildings can be especially vulnerable to the "balancing" of air flow.  
Geothermal
should not take the rap if the system doesn't work will in distributing the 
heat and
cold air (or water).  I am interested in what were the actual problems in the
geothermal system at Cambridge.  If there is enough cooling, in total, then 
there is
likely a good geothermal installation, but a poor distribution system.

Merlin Porter-Borden
Liberty Village, Maryland
We have two Ground Source HVAC systems which work fine.  The air distrubution is
working exceptionally well.  The systems each serve just one house.  The 
installers
(in house and in ground) had installed a great many systems, and the
designer/installer, in house, does ground source only.