Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal Energy Program: Geothermal Heat Pump Overview
Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal Heat Pump Overview
The geothermal heat pump, also known as the
ground source heat pump, is a highly efficient
renewable energy technology that is gaining
wide acceptance for both residential and
commercial buildings. Geothermal heat pumps
are used for space heating and cooling, as
well as water heating. Its great advantage is
that it works by concentrating naturally
existing heat, rather than by producing heat
through combustion of fossil fuels.
The technology relies on the fact that the
Earth (beneath the surface) remains at a
relatively constant temperature throughout
Geothermal heat pumps, such as this
the year, warmer than the air above it during
commercial-size system on the Georgia Tech
the winter and cooler in the summer, very
campus, use the relatively constant temperature
much like a cave. The geothermal heat pump
of the Earth at shallow depths to warm buildings
in the winter and cool them in the summer.
takes advantage of this by transferring heat
Craig Miller, U.S. Department of Energy. (PIX
stored in the Earth or in ground water into a
02211)
building during the winter, and transferring it
out of the building and back into the ground
during the summer. The ground, in other words, acts as a heat source in winter and a
heat sink in summer.
The system includes three principal components:
Geothermal earth connection subsystem
Geothermal heat pump subsystem
Geothermal heat distribution subsystem.
Earth Connection
Using the Earth as a heat source/sink, a series of pipes, commonly called a "loop," is
buried in the ground near the building to be conditioned. The loop can be buried either
vertically or horizontally. It circulates a fluid (water, or a mixture of water and antifreeze)
that absorbs heat from, or relinquishes heat to, the surrounding soil, depending on
whether the ambient air is colder or warmer than the soil.
Page 1 of 2
Geothermal Energy Program: Geothermal Heat Pump Overview
Heat Pump
For heating, a geothermal heat pump removes the heat from the fluid in the Earth
connection, concentrates it, and then transfers it to the building. For cooling, the process
is reversed.
Heat Distribution
Conventional ductwork is generally used to distribute heated or cooled air from the
geothermal heat pump throughout the building.
Residential Hot Water
In addition to space conditioning, geothermal heat pumps can be used to provide
domestic hot water when the system is operating. Many residential systems are now
equipped with desuperheaters that transfer excess heat from the geothermal heat pump's
compressor to the house's hot water tank. A desuperheater provides no hot water during
the spring and fall when the geothermal heat pump system is not operating; however,
because the geothermal heat pump is so much more efficient than other means of water
heating, manufacturers are beginning to offer "full demand" systems that use a separate
heat exchanger to meet all of a household's hot water needs. These units cost-effectively
provide hot water as quickly as any competing system.
For more information contact the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
HOME | SEARCH | CONTACT US | EREN
Page 2 of 2
OFFICE
OF
GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES
Environmental
and Energy
Benefits
of Geothermal
Heat Pumps
Geothermal heat pumps are among the most
energy- and cost-efficient heating and cooling
systems available today. They use less electricity
and produce fewer emissions than conventional
systems, reduce air and water pollution, and
provide a comfortable indoor environment for
building occupants. Nearly 500,000 geothermal
heat pumps are being used today for heating and
cooling throughout the United States in residential, commercial, and government buildings.
Geothermal heat pumps use the stable temperature of the ground
Overview
(vertical boreholes typically are 100 to 400 feet deep) as a heat source
Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) represent a major

clean energy technology. As a commercially viable technology now, GHPs are well positioned to help our
nation achieve the increasingly desirable benefits of
more efficient, clean energy technologies. While the
consumer benefits from the economic and comfortrelated benefits of using GHPs, everyone benefits from
to warm buildings in winter and as a heat sink to cool them in summer.
the substantial environmental and energy benefits

resulting from GHP use, especially as GHPs become
more widespread in the market. The geothermal heat
pump is ideal for residential, commercial, and government building applications. Understanding the environmental and energy benefits of GHPs helps broaden
appreciation of the overall potential of this outstanding
technology.
Achieving the present market penetration level of
nearly 500,000 GHP installations reduces U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by over 1 million metric tons of
carbon dioxide each year. In a landmark technical
report (source: Space Conditioning: The Next Frontier, EPA 430-R-93-004, April 1993), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that GHPs
are the most energy efficient, environmentally clean,
and cost-effective space-conditioning systems available.
The EPA also found that GHPs offer the lowest carbon
dioxide emissions and lowest overall environmental
cost of all the residential space-conditioning technology
readily available today. The few emissions that are
released occur at the power plant, where they are carefully monitored and controlled.
Nearly 500 schools nationwide depend on GHPs for heating and

cooling. GHPs use less energy and produce fewer emissions than their
traditional HVAC counterparts.
Energy Under Foot
the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy consumptionand corresponding emissionsup to 44%
compared to air-source heat pumps and up to 72%
compared to electric resistance heating with standard
air-conditioning equipment for residential applications.
Resource Conservation
Over two-thirds of the nations electrical energy and
over 40% of natural gas consumption is used in buildings. Space heating and cooling and water heating
account for over 40% of the electric power used in residential and commercial buildings. By decreasing or
offsetting the amount of energy needed for space conditioning and water heating, the nation has a major
energy-saving opportunity.
Environmental Benefits
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and
Emissions Reductions
Nearly 40% of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide are
the result of using energy to heat, cool, and provide hot
water for buildings. This is about the same percentage
that the transportation sector contributes. The EPA
found that under most electricity generating scenarios,
GHP systems have the lowest carbon dioxide emissions
of all technologies analyzed, and the lowest overall
environmental cost (source: Space Conditioning: The
Next Frontier).
GHPs, also known as GeoExchangeSM systems, move

the heat from the earth (or a groundwater source) into
the home in the winter, and pull the heat
from the house and discharge it into the
GHP systems have
ground in the summer. The underground
the lowest carbon dioxide
(or underwater) piping loops serve as a
emissions of all techheat source in the winter and a heat sink
in the summer. In essence, its the same
nologies analyzed, and
heat-exchanging process used by the comthe lowest overall
mon refrigerator or air conditioner.
Over an average 20-year lifespan, every 100,000 units

of nominally sized residential GHPs will save more
than 24 trillion BTUs of electrical energy, and save consumers approximately $500 million in heating and
cooling costs at current prices. And over the same
period, these 100,000 units reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by almost 1.1 million metric tons of carbon
equivalents.
environmental cost.
EPA, 1993
While many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes

from scorching heat in the summer to
sub-zero cold in the wintera few feet below the
earths surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature.
Ozone Layer Damage
Because a GHP system is so efficient, it uses a lot less

energy to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
This means that less energyoften created from burning
fossil fuelsis needed to operate a GHP. According to
GHPs minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems that will seldom or
never have to be recharged. GHPs typically use less
Source: EPA, 1993
Annual Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Space Conditioning Equipment by Region

(in thousands of kilograms per year)
14
12
10
Burlington, VT
Chicago, IL
New York, NY
Portland, OR
Atlanta, GA
Geothermal heat pump
Std. air-source heat pump
Advanced air-source heat pump
Std. gas/Std. AC
Advanced gas/Hi-eff. AC
Gas-fired heat pump
Phoenix, AZ
PIX06570
refrigerant than conventional air-conditioning systems.

And using factory-sealed refrigeration systems also
reduces leak potential from field connections and
increases reliability.
Human Health and Comfort

GHPs are safe and clean because there are no combustion flames, no flues, and no odors; just safe, reliable
operation year after year. And compared to most conventional HVAC systems, GHPs deliver constant comfort and improved humidity benefits, especially with
2-speed fan GHP systems. GHPs are quiet too; theres
no noisy outdoor compressor.
GHP systems themselves are environmentally friendly
when properly installed, there is no danger of GHPs
polluting ground water sources. The fluid in the
ground-loop heat exchangers is typically an environmentally safe, water-based antifreeze solution. A recent
EPA analysis (Evaluation of Consequences of Antifreeze Spills from Geothermal Heat Pumps, undated
EPA report released in late 1998, GPO#1998-615003/60624) found that the human health risk from
ingesting groundwater contaminated by a GHP antifreeze leak is low.
This commercial-sized GHP unit, installed in Cavett Elementary School,

Lincoln, Nebraska, provides reliable year-round comfort.
DOE Role
Impressive Market Growth
In 1994, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), working closely with the EPA, Edison Electric Institute, Electric Power Research Institute, International Ground
Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and industry,
helped to create the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC). The GHPC launched the National Earth
Comfort Program, designed to foster the development
of a fast-growing, self-sustaining, national GHP industry infrastructure. DOE has also supported research
and development activities, especially through IGSHPA;
the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and
Air-Conditioning Engineers; the National Ground
Water Association; and DOEs national laboratories.
The work has targeted several areas of GHP technology, lowering the cost of ground heat exchangers, and
developing advanced design software.
The present installation base of nearly 500,000 GHP

systems comprises just a fraction of the technologys
potential applications. Today, GHPs represent a rapidly growing sector of the heatThe geothermal
ing and cooling industry. In 1997, the
GHPC reported an annual growth rate of
heat pump is ideal for
22%. GHP sales grew even faster
residential, commercial,
24%during the first quarter of 1998,
and government building
according to data collected by the Air
applications.
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.
A tremendous opportunity exists to reduce
energy use and carbon emissions significantly by the
accelerated and expanded deployment of GHP systems.
Case StudyFort Polk Army Base

A great example of a large-scale application of GHPs is
the highly successful project at Fort Polk, Louisiana,
where 4,003 U.S. Army housing units at Ft. Polk were
converted to GHPs. Since the new systems were
installed, service calls on hot summer days have
dropped from 90 per day to almost zero, testifying to
the reliability of GHP systems.
In partnership with the GHPC, DOEs Office of Geothermal Technologies seeks to increase annual installations of GHP systems to about 400,000 by 2005 and
reach about 2 million installed (cumulative) that same
year. Achieving the goal of 400,000 annual installations
by 2005 will save consumers over $400 million per year
in energy bills and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
by over 1 million metric tons of carbon each year.
Data were collected on the utility feeders serving the

housing area, and on a sample of apartments before,
during, and after the retrofits. The GHPs and other
efficiency measures reduced electrical consumption by
26 million kWh (average of 6,445 kWh per housing
unit) or 32% of the pre-retrofit consumption, as well
as 100% of natural gas consumption. It also reduced

summer peak demand by 7.5 megawatts, which is 43%
of the pre-retrofit electrical consumption in family
housing, and improved the load factor from 0.52 to
0.62. These energy savings correspond to an estimated
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 22,400 tons
per year, which gives project participants green bragging rights immediately.
For More Information

The following organizations serve as excellent
resources for information on geothermal energy and its
various applications.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Office of Geothermal Technologies, EE-12
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585-0121
(202) 586-5340
http://www.eren.doe.gov/geothermal/
As demonstrated by this Fort Polk project, GHPs

shave peak loads and improve load factors. At Fort
Polk, the whole-house load factor for a house with gas
heating and water heating was 0.32 versus 0.60 for the
GHP house.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Clearinghouse (EREC)
P.O. Box 3048
Merrifield, VA 22116
(800) DOE-EREC (363-3732)
Fax: (703) 893-0400
E-mail: doe.erec@nciinc.com
http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/
Financed by Co-Energy Group, a GHP energy service

company, the project bears no up-front costs to the government. The $18 million contract was signed in February 1994, and the installation was completed in August
1996. The contractor will receive payments amounting to 80% of the energy
GHPs can reduce
savings while providing maintenance durenergy use by 23% to 44%
ing the life of the 20-year contract. For
compared to advanced
maintenance, the Army will pay Coair-source heat pumps,
Energy about 18 cents per square foot per
year, saving the Army about 22% comand by 63% to 72%
pared with previous maintenance costs.
compared to electric
Geo-Heat Center
Oregon Institute of Technology
3201 Campus Drive
Klamath Falls, OR 97601-8801
(503) 885-1750
http://www.oit.osshe.edu/~geoheat/
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc. (GHPC)
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
(888) ALL-4-GEO (255-4436)
http://www.geoexchange.org/
At the time of installation, this project

was the nations largest energy savings
performance contract (ESPC). Since this
pioneer GHP project, both DOE and the
Department of Defense have established a
Super ESPC program. The agencies, through a competitive bid process, prequalify energy service companies based on past performance and their ability to
finance work. Once selected, these energy service companies will be able to sign contracts with any federal
agency within a matter of monthsmuch quicker than
the normal bid process. DOEs Federal Energy Management Program and Office of Geothermal Technologies
have developed a technology-specific Super ESPC for
geothermal heat pumps for all federal agencies.
resistance heating and

standard air-conditioning
equipment.
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association

(IGSHPA)
490 Cordell South
Stillwater, OK 74078-8018
(405) 744-5175
(800) 626-4747
http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/
The Fort Polk project received Vice President Al

Gores Hammer Award in 1997 for hammering away
at building a better governmentone that works
better and costs less. This award, one of the Clinton
Administrations highest, is given to individuals or
groups who have demonstrated exemplary reinvention
of government.
EPA
DOE
Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National

Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory
DOE/GO-10098-653
September 1998, Reprinted April 1999
Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50%
wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste
OFFICE
OF
Geothermal Heat
Pumps Make
Sense for
Homeowners
Geothermal heat pumps are one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool a home and provide
hot water. More and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of these systems, which tap
the relatively constant temperature of the Earth a
few feet underground, for both new homes and
retrofits in existing houses.
Why a Geothermal Heat Pump?

The installation of a heating or cooling system is a
decision that will affect a homeowners comfortand
pocketbookfor years to come. One option to think
about is a geothermal heat pump (GHP), which is one
of the most cost-effective and longest-lasting heating
and cooling systems on the market. Plus, GHPs provide
free hot water as a byproduct of air conditioning for
the household in the summer.

homeowner in both new and retrofit situations. Surveys

by utilities illustrate a high level of satisfaction with
GHPs compared to conventional systems. In fact, more
than 95% of all GHP users would recommend a similar system to their friends and family.
Also known as ground-source heat pumps or GeoExchangeSM systems, GHPs provide many benefits to the
Warren Gretz, NREL/PIX06534
According to the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA), GeoExchange systems are the most energyefficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective
space conditioning systems available (source: Space
Conditioning: The Next Frontier, EPA 430-R-93-004,
April 1993).
This house in Aurora, Colorado, uses a geothermal heat pump system

that will provide all the heating, cooling, and hot water needs. For a
home of 1,500 square feet with a good building envelope and a geothermal heat pump, energy costs are about $1 a day.
Simply put, a GHP system moves the heat from the

earth (or a groundwater source) into the home in the
winter, and pulls the heat from the house and discharges it into the ground in the summer. The underground (or underwater) piping loops serve as a heat
source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer.
While many parts of the country experience seasonal
temperature extremesfrom scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the wintera few feet below the
earths surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Depending on latitude, ground temperatures range from 45F (7C) to 75F (21C). Like a
cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air
above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the
summer. The GHP takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger
rather than with the outside air as with air conditioners.
GHPs Offer Many Benefits
In addition, some electric utilities have financing packages that make the purchase of a GHP system even less
expensive. Other utilities are providing special electric
rates for homes with GHP systems installed
In even the coldest climates, geothermal heat pumps

offer cost savings, durability, low maintenance, yearround comfort, and other benefits.
Durability
Cost Effective
Because they use fewer mechanical components, and

because those components are sheltered from the elements, leaves, dirt, and possible vandalism, geothermal
heat pumps are durable and highly reliable. The underground piping used in the system often has 25- to 50year warranties, and the GHPs themselves typically last
20 years or more.
Geothermal heat pumps save money in operating and

maintenance costs. While the initial purchase price of a
residential GHP system is often higher than that of a
comparable gas-fired furnace and central
air-conditioning system, it is more effiState-of-the-art building
cient, thereby saving money every month.
envelope construction and
For further savings, GHPs equipped with
highly efficient GHP
a device called a desuperheater can heat
systems allow some conthe household water. In the summer cooling period, the heat that is taken from
tractors and utilities to
the
house is used to heat the water for
actually guarantee energy
free. In the winter, water heating costs are
consumption costs of
reduced by about half.
Low Maintenance
Geothermal heat pump systems have fewer maintenance requirements than most other systems. When
properly installed, the underground components are
virtually worry free. The components in the living
space are easily accessible, which increases the convenience factor and helps ensure that the upkeep is done
on a timely basis.
about $25 per month for

each 1,000 square feet of
living space.
On average, a geothermal heat pump system costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, or roughly $7,500 for a 3-ton unit
(typical residential size). In comparison,
other systems would cost about $4,000 with air conditioning. When included in the mortgage, the homeowner
has a positive cash flow from the beginning. For example, say that the extra $3,500 will add $30 per month to
each mortgage payment. But the energy cost savings will
easily exceed that added mortgage amount over the
course of each year. On a retrofit, the GHPs high efficiency typically means much lower utility bills, allowing the investment to be recouped in two to ten years.
Year-Round Comfort
Like the typical forced-air furnace or central air-conditioning system, a GHP system uses ductwork. A twospeed GHP system is so quiet inside a house that users
do not know it is operating because there are no telltale blasts of cold or hot air, depending on whether its
the heating or cooling season.
GHPs also improve humidity control by maintaining
about 50% relative indoor humidity, making GHPs very
effective in humid areas.
Quiet Operation
Source: EPA, 1993
900
With GHPs, there are no outside condensing units like air

conditioners, so theres no concern about A/C noise near patio
areas or decks, or bothering the
neighbors with the constant
hum of a conventional air
conditioner.
600
Geothermal Heat Pumps

Are Highly Efficient
Annual Heating and Cooling Costs by Region

$1500
1200
A study by the Environmental

Protection Agency (source:
300
Space Conditioning: The Next
Frontier, EPA 430-R-93-004,
April 1993) analyzed six loca0
Phoenix, AZ
Burlington, VT
Atlanta, GA
New York, NY
Chicago, IL
Portland, OR
tions representing major climate
Geothermal heat pump
Air source heat pump
Gas furnace with central air
Oil furnace with central air
zones in the U.S. These cities
(Burlington, VT; Chicago, IL;
upper New York City; Portland,
OR; Atlanta, GA; and Phoenix, AZ) were chosen to
compare the performance and costs of emerging highefficiency space-conditioning equipment with equipment already on the market.
2
For all locations, the findings named

Homeowners should also check with
geothermal heat pumps as the most
their utility and ask if they offer any
This home has no
efficient heating and cooling systems
rebates or special electric rate prohot spots or cool spots. It
over other types of space-conditioning
grams.
Another way to help finance
[the heat pump unit] is
equipment including high-efficiency
the purchase of a GHP system is to
good and quiet. And it is
gas furnaces and air conditioners.
roll the cost into an energy-efficient
every bit as economical as
Geothermal heat pump installations
mortgage that would cover this and
I thought it would be.
in both new and existing homes can
other energy-saving improvements to
reduce energy consumption 25% to
the home. The additional cost can be
Ray Mosher, homeowner, Louisiana
75% compared to older or convencombined into the mortgage and will
tional replacement systems. Annual
produce a positive cash flow. Banks
operating costs were also lowest with geothermal heat
and mortgage companies can provide more information
pumps. Add in the benefits of the desuperheater for hot
on these types of loans.
water savings, and its easy to see how a GHP system is
DOE Spreads the Word about GHPs
the most efficient available.
In 1994, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), workGHPs Have Low Environmental Impact
ing closely with the EPA, Edison Electric Institute, ElecBecause a GHP system is so efficient, it uses a lot less
tric Power Research Institute, International Ground
energy to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
This means that less energyoften created from burnRural Electric Cooperative Association,
ing fossil fuelsis needed to operate a GHP. According
and industry, helped to create the GeotThe most unique
to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can reduce energy
hermal Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC).
part of it is the energy
consumptionand corresponding emissionsup to
The GHPC launched the National Earth
44% compared to air-source heat pumps and up to
Comfort Program, designed to foster the
savings that youre going
72% compared to electric resistance heating with standevelopment of a fast-growing, self-susto get from a ground
dard air-conditioning equipment.
taining, national GHP industry infrastrucsource heat pumpthe
ture. DOE has also supported research
advantage of using the
Financing a GHP System
and development activities, especially
earth rather than a
Many geothermal heat pump systems carry the DOE
through IGSHPA; the American Society of
and EPA ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR propane tank or a natural
Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Condilabeled equipment can now be financed with special
tioning Engineers; the National Ground
gas line. . . . It makes your
ENERGY STAR loans from banks and other financial
Water Association; and DOEs national
property worth more.
institutions. The goal of the loan program is to make
laboratories. The work has targeted sevBill Dugan, GeoExchange system
ENERGY STAR equipment easier to purchase, so these
eral areas of GHP technology, lowering
installer, Kansas
loans were created with attractive terms. Some loans
the cost of ground heat exchangers, and
have lower interest rates, longer repayment periods, or
both. Ask your contractor about ENERGY STAR
In partnership with the GHPC, DOEs Office of Geoloans or call the EPAs ENERGY STAR toll-free hotline
thermal Technologies seeks to increase annual installaat 1-888-STAR-YES for a list of financing options.
tions of GHP systems to about 400,000 by 2005 and
reaching about 2 million installed (cumulative) that
same year. Achieving the goal of 400,000 annual instalDesign and Installation
lations by 2005 will save consumers over $400 million
Installing a geothermal heat pump system is not a project for
per year in energy bills and reduce U.S. greenhouse
the do-it-yourselfer. Because the pipes are underground, they
gas emissions by over 1 million metric tons of carbon
each year.
need to be designed and installed correctly, and properly pres-
sure tested.
The System for the Future
The consumer should insist that a qualified and experienced
With their high efficiency and user satisfaction, geothermal heat pumps are one option homeowners should
consider. Not only will they save energy and money,
theyll reduce emissions and provide indoor comfort at
less cost to the environment.
contractor, who has received training at a recognized institution, install the system. For a list of installers and training
locations, contact the International Ground Source Heat Pump
Association and Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium (see For
More Information section).
Case StudyMinnesota
Located in the middle of Minnesotawhere temperatures can range from 90F (32.2C) with 95% humidity
in the summer to -18F (-27.8C) in the winterDennis
Eichingers 3,400-square-foot home averages a little
over $44 per month in electricity bills.

(202) 586-5340
The owner has been very satisfied with the units quietness, high quality, reliability, and low maintenance.
House guests also marvel at the comfort level of the
housethey dont feel any drafts, just an even temperature throughout the house.
In the winter when

the wind chill was 50F
below zero, I know other
people in new homes were
cold, and we were not. We
didnt have any trouble
with drafts and we were
real comfortable.

P.O. Box 3048
(800) DOE-EREC (363-3732)
Fax: (703) 893-0400
The five-ton ground source heat

exchanger connects to five horizontal
Slinky loops, totaling 3,000 feet of
pipe, buried next to the home at a depth
of eight feet (2.4 meters).
GHP technology heats and cools as well
as, or better than, conventional systems,
even in Minnesotas extreme temperatures.
Geo-Heat Center
3201 Campus Drive
(503) 885-1750
Case StudyFlorida
Panama City, Florida, homeowner Keith

Swilley partnered with his builder and
local electric utility to create a 2,000square-foot home thats a model of efficiency. It saves so much energy that the home won the
1997 Energy Value Housing Award for the custom
home category for hot/humid climates at the National
Association of Home Builders Conference in Houston.
Stacey Burger, homeowner, Kansas

(888) ALL-4-GEO (255-4436)
Mr. Swilley used energy-efficient features from ceiling

to floor, with cellulose insulation in the walls and
attics, sealed ductwork, and efficient doors, windows,
and lighting. However, the feature that saves the most
energy is the GeoExchange system.

(IGSHPA)
490 Cordell South
(405) 744-5175
(800) 626-4747
The geothermal heat pump heats and cools the house

and provides hot water for the residents with a desuperheater, which takes waste heat from the air-conditioning process and uses it in the water heater. The
desuperheater actually helps the GeoExchange unit
reach heightened levels of efficiency.
The system was metered separately and has proven to
be a valuable investment, as the homes total energy bill
for 1996 was $906. Amazingly, only $253 of the total
annual energy bill was used for heating and cooling the
2,000 square feet of conditioned space. The energy
bills are even lower than I anticipated, said Mr. Swilley, and the comfort level in the winter and summer is
much greater than expected. I never dreamed I could
heat and cool my home for 69 cents a day!
EPA
DOE

DOE/GO-10098-651
OFFICE
OF
Geothermal Heat
Pumps Score High
Marks in Schools
Nearly 500 schools nationwide have installed
geothermal heat pump systems to provide their
heating and cooling needs. With their proven
lower operating and maintenance costs, energy
efficiency, and superior classroom comfort,
geothermal heat pumps are a great choice for
school applications.
Hundreds of schools in the United States have already
made the smart move and installed geothermal heat
pumps (GHPs), as numerous school facility managers
have recognized the overall comfort, economy, and
energy efficiency of these systems.
What Are Geothermal Heat Pumps?

While many parts of the country experience seasonal
temperature extremesfrom scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the wintera few feet below
the earths surface, the ground remains at a relatively
constant temperature. Like a cave, ground temperature
is warmer than the air above it during the winter and
cooler than the air in the summer. The GHP takes
advantage of this fact by exchanging heat with the
earth through a ground heat exchanger.

Also known as a ground-source or GeoExchangeSM

system, a GHP moves the heat from the earth (or a
groundwater source) into the building in the winter,
and pulls the heat from the building and discharges it
into the ground in the summer. The underground (or
underwater) piping loops serve as a heat source in the
winter and a heat sink in the summer. In essence, its
the same heat-exchanging process used by the common
refrigerator or air conditioner, only its underground.
GHPs come in either closed-loop or open-loop designs.
Closed-loop systems circulate an environmentally
friendly water/antifreeze solution through high density
polyethylene pipes that are buried in the Earth. The
solution absorbs heat from the ground during the winter and transfers it to heat pumps inside the building.
In the summer, heat from the building is carried
through the pipes and deposited in the cool ground.
Open-loop systems operate in much the same way.
They can be installed where a sufficient, predictable,
and relatively clean supply of water (such as a pond,
lake, or well) is available.
Benefits for Schools

A major advantage of GHPs is their individual classroom heating/
cooling controls or zone space conditioning.
Schools choose GHP systems for many reasons, some

of which include aesthetics, zone control, energy savings and lower maintenance costs, decreased space
requirements, and safety.
Aesthetics
Energy Cost Comparison*

$/Square foot/Year (Electric and natural gas)
GHP systems allow for greater design freedom in

schools. These systems can be installed nearly anywhere. Since there are no rooftop mechanical components, designs can allow for sloped roofs and minimize
the space needed to contain less-than-attractive HVAC
equipment.
Average of 5 schools with conventional HVAC systems
Average of 4 schools with GHP systems
Individual Room Controls
We have installed
over 75 GHP systems in
the Austin Independent
School District alone.
In addition to the savings,
low noise, low maintenance, and numerous
other benefits, these systems are also environmentally friendly and
convenient to use.
Bob Lawson, Austin Independent

Schools, Texas
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
*Based on Lincoln, Nebraska, public schools project
Because of the unique structure of school

facilities and their many individual
rooms, a major advantage of GHPs is
their ability to heat or cool individual
classrooms or other areas, known as
zone space conditioning. Each room
can be kept as warm or cool as needed,
rather than heating or cooling the entire
building uniformly. One of the greatest
attributes to having this GHP system
installed is the individual control in each
space by the users, said David Anstrand,
construction administrator for the Neff
Elementary School GHP project in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
0.70
0.80
such areas as cafeterias and gymnasiums, each operating only as needed. Still others may be used to provide
hot water for kitchens and locker rooms.
Energy Savings
Energy savings are a significant advantage of GHP systems. Instead of creating heat by burning a fuel, GHPs
move heat from one place to where its needed. Therefore, consumption of electricity is reduced 25% to
50% compared to traditional heating and cooling systems, allowing a payback of system installation in two
to eight years and a life expectancy of 20 to 30 years.
Smaller Space Requirement
In most school facilities, one GHP is used

for one or two classrooms. The heat pumps may be in
the classrooms as stand-alone consoles, in closets, or
above hallway ceilings. Larger heat pumps are used for
A GHP system eliminates the need for boilers and cooling towers, which reduces the need for mechanical
space. We have a decrease in the need for space
because only pumps are needed.
This translates to $100 per square
foot of building savings, says
Top school GHP use by state:
Anstrand. In addition, because the
Texas 102, Missouri 62, Kentucky 38
New Jersey 33, Nebraska 23
components of a GHP system can
be installed anywhere, they eliminate the need for rooftop equipment. Since the GHP equipment is
housed indoors, it lasts much
longer than conventional HVAC
systems that are exposed to harsh
outdoor weather or vandalism.
Safety
GHPs are proven to be safe for
schools. Since the piping and connections are buried, there is no
dangerous outdoor equipment that
children might be tempted to play
on or vandalize. Polyethelene
ground heat exchangersessentially the same as used for natural gas
distributionare often guaranteed
for 25 to 40 years.
Top school GHP use by city:
Austin, TX 76; Leander, TX 8; Birdville, TX 7;

Hopkinsville, KY 5; Kearney, NE 5; Lincoln, NE 5;
Kirbyville, TX 5
Hundreds of schools in the United States reap the benefits and savings of geothermal heat pump
systems to provide heating, cooling, and hot water.
2
Case StudyNebraska
Schools Benefit from GHPs
Once we began to
study the different types of
heating, it became very
obvious to me that the geothermal plan was going to
be the least expensive.
Case StudyTexas Schools

Favor GHPs
In Lincoln, Nebraska, not only is the

Austin (Texas) Independent School
school district benefitting from the
District was the nations first school
savings of GHP systems, but the taxdistrict to install GHP systems on a
payers are, too. With cooperation
large scale. Since 1989, the majority
from Lincoln Electric Systems and
of heating and cooling systems that
Lincoln Public Schools, four elemenhave been installed are GHP systems.
tary schools recently installed GHP
Nan Droz, board member of
Before installing GHPs, the school
systems. The heating and cooling
Manheim Township School District
district was facing problems maincosts are about $144,000 a year less
(Neff Elementary School project),
taining and upgrading their heating
(for 19961997) than they would
Pennsylvania
and cooling systems because of the
have been if those schools installed
large number of schools. One maintemore traditional heating and cooling
nance supervisor for the school district said, Stocking
systems. These savings will reach about $3.8 million
parts for the numerous heating and cooling systems in
over just 20 years, allowing for other capital improveour schools was a nightmare. By standardizing on the
ments to be realized.
GeoExchange units, we eliminate chillers, boilers, conCompared to natural gas HVAC systems (air-cooled,
vectors, etc., and all the chemicals, parts, and maintevariable air volume systems) that were installed in two
nance associated with them.
other schools at the same time, the schools had a total
energy cost savings of 57%. There were also 42% and

20% reductions in electrical demand and electrical
energy consumption, respectively. Not only will the
school district taxpayers save approximately $3.8 million over the next 20 years, but the GHPs also help
reduce peak demand for electricity compared to alternative systems.
Installation Methods
GHP systems can be used in virtually any area of the
countryfrom Alaska to Floridabecause of the way
they rely on the thermal stability of the
Earth to heat and cool. The type of instalFor our current
lation best for each school depends on a
students and thousands
number of factors, such as climate, propthat will take their place
erty layout, and geologic conditions. The
best economics are gained by installing
in the next century, one
the ground heat exchanger when a buildof the best means of
ing is under construction. Piping may be
achieving true, lasting
arranged as a few wells per classroom or
energy efficiency in our
as a series of vertical wells for the entire
schools is to convert them
school. GHPs are a particularly viable
to GeoExchange heating
heating and cooling option in areas where
stringent air emissions standards are diffiand cooling.
cult to meet using conventional systems.
Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson
For school facilities, GHP systems can be
the lowest first-cost option when competing with four-pipe boiler and cooling-tower systems. In
most other situations, GHP systems have lower lifecycle costs when considering overall energy and maintenance costs.
Case StudyGHPs Popular with

Kentucky School District
Paint Lick Elementary School in Garrard County, Kentucky, was the first newly constructed school in Kentucky to be heated and cooled by a GHP system.
Thirty-five separate GHPs throughout the school allow
the library, cafeteria, offices, gymnasium, and each
classroom to have individual thermostats and optimal
zone control. The GHP construction cost of $9.60 per
square foot was very reasonable considering there are
individual temperature controls in every room. The
GHP system provides a financial cost savings in terms
of service, because other systems are more labor intensive and require continual custodial care, said Dr.
William Wesley, superintendent of the Garrard County
School District.
Schoolchildren Learn by Example
One manufacturer even offered an unconditional guarantee on the system for two years. By guaranteeing this
system, we took the risk away from the school board,
and we believed once they saw what the system could
do, awareness and acceptance of the technology would
be our reward, noted the companys head of marketing. The system did its job in convincing peopleKentucky now has over 40 schools with GHP systems.
Judged solely on the efficiency and durability of GHPs,

it seems a smart choice for schools to incorporate
them. But besides these advantages, there are more reasons to incorporate them into schools. With GHPs, the
money saved on energy costs can be invested in educational resources.
The schools with

geothermal systems have
energy costs about half
those of the schools with
conventional heating and
cooling equipment.
GHPs in schools can teach children

early in their lives to start thinking
about cost efficiency and their environment. They can learn about conserving natural resources and that
they can be part of helping to protect
and save our environmentall of this
right in their own school.
Doug Bantam, Chief Engineer, Lincoln

Electric Systems, Nebraska
DOE Spreads the Word

about GHPs
In 1994, the U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE), working closely with the Environmental
Protection Agency, Edison Electric Institute, Electric
Power Research Institute, International Ground Source
Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association, and
industry, helped to create the Geothermal
Our GHP system
Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC). The
was a retrofit. Over a
GHPC launched the National Earth
Comfort
Program, designed to foster the
seven-month period, we
development
of a fast-growing, selfhave saved over 40% on
sustaining, national GHP industry infraheating plus the added
structure. DOE has also supported
benefits of cooling and hot
research and development activities, espewater.
cially through IGSHPA; the American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and
David Grubb, Schyler R-1 Schools,
Air-Conditioning Engineers; the National
Missouri
Ground Water Association; and DOEs
national laboratories. The work has targeted several areas of GHP technology, lowering the
cost of ground heat exchangers, and developing
advanced design software.

The following organizations serve as excellent resources
for information on geothermal energy and its various
applications.
(202) 586-5340
same year. Achieving the goal of

400,000 annual installations by 2005
will save consumers over $400 million per year in energy bills and
reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
by over 1 million metric tons of carbon each year.

P.O. Box 3048
(800) DOE-EREC (363-3732)
Fax: (703) 893-0400
Geo-Heat Center
3201 Campus Drive
(503) 885-1750
In partnership with the GHPC, DOEs Office of Geothermal Technologies seeks to increase annual installations of GHP systems to about 400,000 by 2005 and
reaching about 2 million installed (cumulative) that

(888) ALL-4-GEO (255-4436)
http://www.geoexchange.org
Construction Growth in Educational Buildings

Millions of square feet

(IGSHPA)
490 Cordell South
(405) 744-5175
(800) 626-4747
200
150
100
50
EPA
0 80
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
DOE

98
Year
DOE/GO-10098-650
OFFICE
OF
Geothermal Heat
Pumps for
Medium and
Large Buildings
Business owners around the United States are
installing geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool
their buildings. This well-established technology
offers benefits to businesses that range from
increased comfort for employees and customers to
significant dollar savings in energy and operation
and maintenance costs.
Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are also known as
ground source or water source heat pumps and GeoExchangeSM systems. They use the relatively constant temperaturestypically 45F to 70F (7C to 21C)of
soil and water beneath the frost line to provide efficient
heating and cooling all year long. The efficiencies
achieved by these systems are impressive and allow
commercial users to save up to 50 percent over conventional heating and cooling systems, plus they reduce
maintenance costs.

(vertical boreholes are typically 100 to 400 feet deep) as a heat source
2005. Achieving this objective will save consumers

about $400 million per year in energy bills and reduce
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by over 1 million metric
tons of carbon each year.
The environment also benefits when business owners

choose geothermal heat pumps. The U.S. Department
of Energys (DOE) Geothermal Heat Pump Program
has set a goal of two million units installed by the year
Business people who own these systems swear by them.

According to Marion Pinckley, designer and construction manager for the worlds largest GHP system, their
enthusiasm is well founded. The initial cost of a GHP
system is often competitive with conventional HVAC
equipment, and the operation and maintenance costs
are usually much lower, typically yielding a simple
payback of five years or less, explains Pinckley. In
Minnesota GHP System Pays Off
Jeff Frey, Photographer/PIX06542
Marvin Hansens Skunk Creek Conoco station (shown at left)

in Sandstone, Minnesota, is the first integrated GHP system in
Minnesota. Hansen chose the system based on a recommendation from Duluth-based utility Minnesota Power, which provided technical and project management assistance and
helped defray the cost of the mechanical design. According to
Minnesota Powers Randy Richgruber, the utility estimates that
The GHP system in this Minnesota gas station heats and cools the
the system saves Hansen $5,000 each year compared with a
building; provides hot water, food refrigeration, and ice making; and
conventional furnace and water heater, with a payback of less
melts snow to and from the car wash.
than five years.
addition, every room in the building can have its own

comfort control. In my 45 years in the business, Ive
worked with nearly every HVAC system available, and
you cant beat GHP systems for economy, comfort,
flexibility, and environmental benefits.
Opportunity f or Ener gy Service

Companies
Why should an energy service company (ESCO) offer GHPs?
Because they are a much better investment than conventional
Improving the Bottom Line
systems! A 1997 analysis shows that conventional heating and
Business owners and managers like to save money, and

thats one of the things a well-designed GHP system
does best by reducing monthly energy bills. But GHPs
also have less obvious economies. These units can heat
water for free in the summer with rejected waste heat
from air conditioning. Reclaimed waste heat from
freezers and ice machines can also be used for space or
water heating and snow-melting systems. For example,
at Marvin Hansens Skunk Creek Conoco station in
Sandstone, Minnesota, the heat rejected by the store
refrigeration equipment and GHPwhich would be
wasted in a conventional systemis transferred to the
ground loop where it is used by two water-to-water
GHPs to heat domestic water and water for the car
wash. During the winter, this recycled heat warms the
concrete slab floor in the car wash and provides heat
for the entrance and exit ramp snow melting system.
The result is that heat is never wasted, but rather it is
moved to where it can be used or stored in the earth
connection for later use.
air-conditioning in a base case office building installed under

an energy service pricing contract earns an internal rate of
return (IRR) of 9%. Under the same circumstances, GHPs provide an IRR of at least 28% for contract periods up to 20
yearswhile still reducing equivalent customer bills by 5%.
If the ESCO can integrate the HVAC design into the building
plan early in the design process, the rate of return can be
even better.
This comparison was developed with computer models using
actual GHP operating data. Barakat and Chamberlin, Inc.,
defines the benefits of GHPs as ideally suited to energy service pricing contractual arrangements.
Source: Barakat and Chamberlin, Inc., Geothermal Heat Pump Profitability in Energy
Services, November 1997.
integrated, these systems recover excess heat from one

indoor zone of the building and use it where it is
needed. For example, heat pumps on the sunny side of
a large building with an integrated system can provide
cooling while those on the shady side are providing
heat. Each of these individual units is attached to the
same earth connection by a loop inside the building. It
is even possible to connect multiple buildings in the
same general area to the same earth connection.
Because these systems have fewer mechanical components, they are also more reliable, easier to service, and
less prone to failure. It is not uncommon to find geothermal systems that were installed 30 or 40 years ago
still operating effectively today. The results of these
combined efficiencies include dollar savings for the
building owner and avoided air and water pollution.
In large buildings, many individual heat pumps can be
placed in different zones and each can be sized to meet
the needs of the space it conditions. When properly
If one of the heat pumps in a multi-pump installation

does need servicing or replacement, the problem is
easily isolated and corrected because of the modular
nature of the equipment. The rest of the heating and
cooling system is not affected.
Comparison Between GHP and Conventional Systems: Electricity Used

kW/ton
GHPs also save money in large buildings with multiple

heat pumps by reducing the amount of space required
for mechanical rooms. GHP systems use smaller ducts,
because the air handling system only provides make-up
air and does not carry heat. This results in smaller
floor-to-floor heights as heating and cooling BTUs are
transferred via small pipes rather than bulky ducting.
By eliminating roof-mounted equipment, the roof lasts
longer and the
steel can be downsized.
GHPstructural
system (multi-zone)
Chilled water VAV system
1.6
Fans
Indoor and
outdoor fans
Compressor
Compressor
Single zone
rooftop system
Multi-zone
rooftop system
1.2
Pumps
0.8
0.4
Indoor,
outdoor fans
and pumps
In large commercial
costs
of system
Single zoneinstallations,
rooftop system the initial
Mult-zone
rooftop
GHPs are very competitive with boilers and cooling
towers. Major projects (larger than 300 tons) often
attract bidders from all over the country for designing,
drilling, and installation, thereby achieving very competitive prices.
Heat pump
and fans
Compressor
GHP system
(multi-zone)
Chilled water
VAV system
All these economies add up to a handsome return on

investment for businesses that choose GHPs. If the initial cost of installing a GHP system is higher, these systems typically pay for themselves in reduced energy and
maintenance costs in less than five years.
cool earth. GHPs located inside the building distribute

the warmed or cooled air throughout the interior.
In commercial installations, an underground heat
exchanger and a fluid-pumping or circulation system
are combined with packaged geothermal heat pumps.
The heat pumps are placed throughout the building to
provide multiple temperature-controlled comfort zones.
GHPs can be configured for single rooms or zones with
individual circulating pumps and ground heat exchangers. In large installations, the system consists of a
ground heat exchanger with a single pumping station
serving multiple heat pump units.
Roadmap for Success

The benefits of GHPs can be tailored to many specific
businesses, such as gas stations, motels, hotels, retirement centers, large and small office buildings, auto
maintenance facilities, and others.
In some places, local utilities offer design assistance,
referrals, or financial incentives to offset the initial cost
of purchasing and installing them. The Geothermal
Heat Pump Consortium (GHPC) also offers some
design assistance (see For More Information). In addition, many energy service companies (ESCOs)businesses that install energy-saving technologies and
whose fees are paid out of the subsequent energy savingsoffer GHPs to their clients.
Comfort and Security

In addition to saving money, GHPs provide very comfortable heating and cooling. Customer satisfaction
ranks among the highest of all heating and cooling systems. Building owners and users can
simultaneously heat and cool, provide
Good News for the
many separate comfort zones, heat and
Environment
cool selectively, and operate with very little down time.
Consumers are becoming more
How a GHP System Works

GHPs are far more versatile than conventional HVAC
systems, because they provide space conditioning
heating, cooling, humidity controland many installations also provide hot water. GHPs do not require a
boiler or cooling tower, which makes them simpler than
conventional HVAC systems to operate and maintain.
PIX06570
GHPs exchange heat with the earth through a system

of buried plastic pipes called a ground heat exchanger.
In the winter, fluid in the pipes extracts heat from the
earth and carries it through the system and into the
building. In the summer, heat is pulled from the building, carried through the system, and deposited in the
This commercial-sized GHP unit, installed in Cavett Elementary School,

Lincoln, Nebraska, provides reliable year-round comfort.
3
The equipment used in GHPs is either

underground or located indoors so it is
not vulnerable to vandalism or mechanical failures caused by severe weather. The
GHPs are very quiet, which makes it possible to install them anywhere in the
buildingin closets, above suspended ceilings, or as self-contained consoles. Typically, GHPs do not require roof-top units,
which are undesirable aesthetically and
require roof penetrations, with the potential for leaks and future maintenance.
sophisticated about patronizing
DOE Involvement
why GHPs are becoming a popular
businesses that demonstrate sensitivity to the environment, and they

consistently rank their comfort and
satisfaction with GHPs higher than
with any other system. Combine
this with the fact that the higher
initial investment is repaid quickly
through lower energy and maintenance bills, and it is easy to see
In 1994, the U.S. Department of Energy

HVAC choice among knowledgeable
(DOE), working closely with the EPA,
business people.
Edison Electric Institute, Electric Power
Research Institute, International Ground
Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and industry,
helped to form the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium
(GHPC). The GHPC launched the National Earth
Comfort Program, designed to foster the development
of a fast-growing, self-sustaining, national GHP industry infrastructure. DOE has also supported research
and development activities, especially through IGSHPA;
the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and
Air-Conditioning Engineers; the National Ground
Water Association; and DOEs national laboratories.
The work has targeted several areas of GHP technology, lowering the cost of ground heat exchangers, and
Worlds Lar gest GHP System

The Galt House East Hotel and Waterfront Office
Buildings in Louisville, Kentucky, use a 4,700 ton
GHP system to meet the heating and cooling needs
of the complex. The 750,000-square-foot (70,000 m 2)
Galt House East hotel, completed in 1984, uses a
1,700-ton GHP system, which cost $1,500 per ton
to install. In comparison, a conventional system
would have cost between $2,000 and $3,000 per
ton. As a bonus, the system saves about $25,000
per month in reduced energy costs and frees up
about 25,000 square feet (2,323 m 2) of additional
PIX06541
commercial space that would have been needed to

house conventional HVAC equipment. The Waterfront Office Buildings, built in 1994, add about
960,000 square feet (89,000 m 2) of office space and almost 3,000 tons of GHP capacity to the
project, making this the worlds largest commercial GHP project. According to Marion Pinckley,
Galt House designer and construction manager, Galt House East has been running for 15 years
with no system problems. The GHP system has performed even better than expected.

(888) ALL-4-GEO (255-4436)

(202) 586-5340

(IGSHPA)
490 Cordell South
(405) 744-5175
(800) 626-4747

P.O. Box 3048
(800) DOE-EREC (363-3732)
Fax: (703) 893-0400
http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo
Geo-Heat Center
3201 Campus Drive
(503) 885-1750
EPA
DOE

DOE/GO-10098-648

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