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Geothermal heat pump systems are a rapidly expanding part of the geothermal industry. Also known as ground source heat pumps, this efficient energy technology offers low operating and maintenance costs. Payback of investment generally occurs early in the long expected service life of these alternative energy systems.
Geothermal Resource Group, Inc. has the technical knowledge, equipment and experience needed to properly install the vertical loops required for geothermal heat pump systems. Our company is a member of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. Two of our engineers, Bill Rickard and Wendell Howard, are certified loop installers.
Bill Rickard's professional licenses include:
- California Professional Engineer (PE No. P001722)
- California General Engineering Contractor License No. 922623, for
- A - General Engineering
- D-09 - Drilling, Blasting and Oil field Work, and
- C-57 - Water Well Drilling and Pump Setting
- Nevada Licensed Contractor for
- A-6 — Drilling of oil, gas, and exploratory wells (License No. 73167),
- C-23 — Drill wells and install pumps, pressure tanks, and storage tanks (License No. 72966) with a Nevada Water Well Driller (License No. 1933)
- Utah Water Well Driller (License No. 821)
What is a geothermal heat pump system?
A geothermal heat pump system can be used for central heating or air conditioning in buildings. It works by exchanging heat with the ground, where temperatures are fairly stable. In winter the heat pump takes the heat from the ground and exhausts it to the building, and in summer the process is reversed. While these systems currently have slightly higher capital costs, their operational costs are far lower than conventional HVAC technologies. The difference in initial cost is paid back in energy savings over a period of 5-10 years.
The major design options are: Direct Exchange, Closed Loop (Vertical, Horizontal and Pond), and Open Loop. The first ground source heat pump was developed in the late 1940's, and has grown in worldwide acceptance since the 1970's. The Coefficient of Performance of a heat pump ranges from 2.4 to 5.0 and Energy Efficiency Ratio ranges from 10.6 to 30.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pumps are the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space-conditioning systems available. They produce less greenhouse gases than conventional systems, and the fluids used in closed loop systems can be designed to be biodegradable and nontoxic.
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