Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Geothermal heat pumps

[vbradova (vbradova]

Many thanks to all who have responded to my query re geothermal heat pumps. I
want to sum up what I have learned so far.

On the east coast, Blueberry Hill, Eno, Liberty Village and Cambridge have 
used/will
be using ground source heat pumps. Blueberry Hill and Eno have geopump info
on their web sites.

As I understand it, all have put in individual units and are happy with them,
except Cambridge, who put in 2 large multiunit systems, and has experienced
serious problems, due to the badly designed and installed distribution system.
They recommend getting a good service contract, and making sure that one single
firm takes overall responsibility for both installation of the pumps and the
distribution system. The folks at Eno are particularly happy with their Water
Furnace units and the realized savings on heating and cooling.

I was unable to locate any local installers in my area. I contacted my utility
company who also did not have any info. But a call to one local large HVAC firm
identified a neighboring utility company who is more "with it" (Central Hudson).
I called their specialist who sent along a packet of info including a video
loaner. They give $800 rebates for households who install the pumps, and will
assist with the design as needed. They also provided a list of many air heat
pump installers as well as 3 geo heat pump installers in the Hudson Valley (at
least one of them has installed about 70 of these units). The 10 min or so video
effectively describes the system to householders and made me feel like this
stuff is real, real enough for conventional unitity people to push it with 
enthusiasm.


It seems to me that it is a good idea to find out early in the coho game if
your utility supports this technology -- and if they do not, begin to educate
them and push them in that direction, so that when you are ready to build, they
offer assistance and rebates.

I have concluded that this is top notch technology that makes both environmental
and financial sense. The only drawback is the higher initial cost, which can
be only somewhat offset by the rebates. However, the savings will pay for extra
cost of the system within a few years.

In the NY area, the most effective geopumps are the ones that tap into the 
ground
water (either via wells or via pipes laid on the bottom of a lake or pond).
The systems laid in the ground are not as effective as the ground temperatures
fluctuate more; in contrast, water stays constant around 50 degrees F.

More info can be obtained from International Ground Source Heat Pump 
Association,
490 Cordell South, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078.
http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu

Vera