GEOTHERMAL FAQ'S

Q: What is a geothermal heat pump?

A: A Geothermal Heat Pump is an electrically powered heating air conditioning system that uses the natural heat storage ability of the earth. In most areas the ground temperature 6 feet down stays a constant 68 to 72 degrees.

Q: How does it work?

A: Like any type of heat pump, it simply moves heat energy from one place to another. Your refrigerator works using the same principle. By using the refrigeration process, a Geothermal Heat Pump removes the heat from the home and transferred to the ground.

Q: How is heat transferred between the earth and the home?

A: The earth has the ability to absorb and store heat energy. To use that stored energy, that constant 68 to 72 degrees temperature is extracted from the earth through a liquid medium (water) and is pumped to the heat pump or heat exchanger. In the winter, the heat is used to heat your home. In summer, the process is reversed and indoor heat is extracted from your home and transferred to the earth throughout the water.

Q: You mentioned heating and cooling. Does it do both?

A: One of the things that make a heat pump so versatile is its ability to be a heating and cooling system in one. You can change from one mode to another, just like you do on a conventional heating and air conditioning system via a thermostat.

Q: What types of loops are available?

A: There are 2 main types of loops: open and closed. The closed loop is the most common. The same water is circulated throughout the entire system. An open loop is used when a water table is high. It is also known as pump and dump.

Q: Where can the loop be located?

A: That depends on land availability and terrain. Most closed-loops are drilled vertically about 150 ft. per ton.

Q: How many pipes are in a hole?

A: Actually, two. Polyethylene pipe in the 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch depending on location. Then the hole is almost filled with a type of grout called bentonite. This acts like a radiator in the ground for heat extraction and rejection.

Q: How efficient is a geothermal heat pump?

A: Geothermal heat pumps are more than 3 times as efficient as the most efficient gas furnace, and more than 2 1/2 times more efficient than a 12 SEER air conditioner.

Vertical closed loop system.

STANDING COLUMN WELL SYSTEM
Another form of an open loop system where groundwater is extracted from the bottom of your well, circulated through your heat pump's heat exchanger, and returned to the top of the water column in the same well.

Horizontal loop installation.

LAKE or POND LOOPS Pipe loops are placed on the bottom of the body of water in order to capture the geothermal energy. Size and depth of the pond will have to be considered.

Thermal Conductivity Testing

Thermal conductivity is a measurement of how easily heat can pass through a given material or formation. A thermal conductivity test is a prerequisite for a properly designed geothermal ground-loop heat exchanger: it indicates how easily heat can be conducted to and from the circulating fluid in the heat exchanger piping.

For example, in a formation with high thermal conductivity, the loop temperature required to reject a given amount of heat to the ground would be less than the loop temperature for a formation with a lower thermal conductivity. Higher loop temperatures for cooling translate into reduced heat pump performance and higher operating costs.

Mayer's Well Drilling has its own thermal conductivity testing equipment, which allows us to respond quickly to our customers' demands and to return results quickly.

Why Consider Thermal Conductivity Testing?

• Test results allow more accurate installation cost estimates
• Test parameters can be set to simulate loop response under cooling design conditions
• Test results enable ground loops to be sized to match existing formation conditions
• Multiple tests allow comparison of different grouts
• Precision designs allow the system to run more economically and save money on drilling, grouting and pipe materials
• Test results can be input directly into most popular design software programs

Why Geothermal?

A Cleaner, More Cost-Effective Resource

Studies show that approximately 70% of the energy used in geothermal systems is renewable energy from the ground. The remainder is clean electrical energy which is used to concentrate heat and transport it from one location to another. In winter, the ground absorbs solar energy and provides a barrier to cold air. In summer, the ground heats up more slowly than the outside air.

As a result, owners of geothermal systems typically enjoy utility bills that are 25-70% lower than with conventional systems. In addition, there are lower maintenance costs.

Additional Advantages of Geothermal Energy

Owners of geothermal systems may also experience the following benefits:

• The National Association of Realtors Appraisal Journal estimates that a home's value increases by $10-25 for every $1 reduction in the annual utility bill
• A higher year-round comfort level than with conventional systems
• Peace of mind of knowing they're being environmentally responsible
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional furnace
• Elimination of a potential source of poisonous carbon monoxide
• Little to no maintenance costs (no costly boiler repairs or cleaning)

HVAC Contractors

Mayer's Well Drilling specializes in geothermal well drilling and ground looping for residential and commercial projects of all sizes. We partner with HVAC contractors in designing and installing geothermal heating and cooling systems. We work with large and small contractors and have the experience, staff and equipment to help you complete a geothermal system that meets the highest standards of quality in the trade. Feel free to view our projects and speak to our customers. Then give us a call if we can help.

The Geothermal Opportunity

As fuel prices continue to rise, your clients are probably becoming more aware of alternate ways to heat and cool their homes. As a result, your business may have experienced a dramatic drop in service calls and installations over the past two years. More and more HVAC contractors are considering geothermal drilling as a way to diversify and grow revenues. As the premier geothermal driller in the Northeast, Mayer's Well Drilling works closely with HVAC contractors who want to change their focus from fossil fuels to "greener" technologies.

Using Heat Loss Studies to Plan Geothermal Drilling

Most HVAC contractors already conduct heat loss studies on customers' homes. These same studies can be used to "size" homes for geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Once a heat loss measurement is provided to Mayer's Well Drilling, we assist in designing a well field necessary to meet the building's geothermal drilling needs. Once the wells are in place, Mayer's Well Drilling provides the lines through the building's foundation wall, whether individual or reverse-returned.

IGSHPA Certification and Geothermal Drilling Experience

Your geothermal drilling contractor should be certified with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and have experience installing geothermal heating and cooling systems. Mayer's Well Drilling has both: we are certified through IGSHPA and the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

Whether it's a small house needing two or three wells or a larger commercial project requiring 50 to 60 wells, Mayer's Well Drilling can provide all the exterior service needed for your geothermal heating and cooling system projects.

Homeowners

Geothermal heating and cooling systems are a "green energy" which uses the earth as a heat source and as a "heat sink" – something that absorbs and disperses heat from another object using thermal contact. A series of pipes, commonly called a ÒloopÓ, carry a fluid used to connect the system's geothermal heat pump to the earth. Most commonly, the loops contain water or a water and antifreeze mixture. The technical term for this part of the system is "ground heat exchanger".

Heating and Cooling:
Geothermal Energy as a Fuel Supply

In heating mode, geothermal heat pumps extract heat from the fluid in the earth connection and distribute it to the home or building, typically through a system of air ducts. Cooler air from the building is returned to the geothermal heat pumps, where it cools the fluid flowing to the earth connection. The fluid is then re-warmed as it flows through the earth connection.

In cooling mode, the relatively cool fluid from the earth connection absorbs heat from the building and transfers it to the ground.

Costs and Saving

How Much Will It Cost to Install a Geothermal Well System?

While each house is unique, the usual cost of a geothermal well system can range from about $9,000 to $13,000, depending on your home's requirements.

How Much Will It Save?

In a recent customer survey, we found that homeowners saved 30-50% on their heating and cooling bills after installing geothermal systems. A home's value increases by $10-25 for every $1 reduction in the annual utility bill, according to the National Association of Realtors Appraisal Journal

New Tax Incentives for Geothermal Energy Systems

Expanded Tax Incentive Encourages Installation of
Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems

Legislation allows FULL 30% TAX INCENTIVE!

Homeowners who install geothermal heating and cooling systems are now eligible for increased tax incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Previous legislation offered a one-time tax credit of 30 percent of the total investment for residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pump installations, with a maximum credit of $2,000 for a single residence. The new bill, signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009, removes the $2,000 cap and offers homeowners the entire 30 percent tax credit.

The new tax credits are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009, and expire on Dec. 31, 2016. Residential systems installed Jan. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008, are also eligible for the 30 percent tax credit, but they are subject to the provisions of previous legislation, including the $2,000 cap.

To qualify for the tax credit, residential systems must meet Energy Star requirements. Owners can file for the credit by completing the Renewable Energy Credits subsection on their 2009 tax return forms. No proof of purchase is required. However, in case of an audit, owners are encouraged to keep a detailed invoice of their purchase on file. Contractors who install the product should list the purchase as a "Geothermal Heat Pump" on the invoice and note that the unit "Meets or exceeds requirements of the Energy Star program currently in effect."

"This new, larger tax incentive supports geothermal technology as a homegrown solution to both the energy and the financial crisis by encouraging the growth of renewable energy and creating opportunities for the heating and air-conditioning contractors, electricians, plumbers, excavators and drilling machine operators that support the geothermal industry", said Bruce Ritchey, CEO of WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. "Geothermal heat pumps and the machines used to put the renewable heat exchangers in the earth are all made in the United States. Additionally, every system installed requires skilled U.S. labor across a variety of trades."

Geothermal systems tap the free, renewable supply of solar energy stored just a few feet below the Earth's surface and use that energy to drive heating and cooling systems in both residential and commercial buildings. In addition to utility, state and now federal tax incentives that enhance the affordability of geothermal systems, this cost-effective, environmentally friendly technology offers a host of benefits that includes:

• Free, renewable supply of solar energy
• Efficiency ratings up to five times higher than those of ordinary heating and cooling systems
• Savings on utility bills up to 70 percent
• Reducd carbon footprint, since the system burns no fossil fuels
• More even distribution of heating and cooling for improved comfort
• Improved indoor air quality
• Quiet operation with no noisy outdoor units to disturb the environment or neighbors
• Safe operation that requires no open flame or fuel storage tanks
• Less maintenance
• Increased system longevity (an average life span of 24 years vs.15 for conventional air conditioners and 20 years for fossil fuel furnaces)

More Geothermal Energy Tax Incentives and Rebates

Businesses and residential homeowners may qualify for a wide variety of investment tax credits, which can be deducted against capital improvement expenses. Consult a tax specialist for specific information

Investment Tax Credits (IRS)

Standard investment tax credits for business can be deducted against capital improvement expenses. These expenses generally include rehabilitation expenses and specifically include solar energy systems, geothermal energy systems, and micro turbines. See instructions for form 3468 (Investment Credit) for more information.

• Energy Policy Act of 2005 - Federal Tax Deductions and Credits (IRS)
• The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) created tax deductions and credits for the installation of many energy efficiency measures. These deductions and credits are applicable to businesses and residential homeowners under different sets of guidelines. Homeowners can receive credits for a percentage of the cost of specific eligible measures installed. Commercial property owners can earn a tax deduction for improvements relative to ASHRAE 90.1-2004 standards. These deductions fall into three areas of concentration: interior lighting; heating and cooling ventilation and hot water systems; and building envelope.

Getting Started

Once you've decided to use geothermal drilling to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, you'll need to take a few steps:

1. Contact an HVAC Contractor

The first thing to do is contact a qualified HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) contractor. Your HVAC contractor should be familiar with geothermal technology and be accredited with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).

Feel free to call us for list of recommended HVAC contractors in your area.

2. Obtain a Heat loss Calculation

The most common question people ask us is, "Based on my home's square footage, how many wells do I need and how much will it cost?" Square footage does not matter in this case: Wells are sized using a "heat loss" calculation, which is a measurement of the home's efficiency.

To obtain a heat loss calculation, your HVAC contractor will use a procedure known as Manual J. Once your HVAC contractor performs a Manual J study, he or she will give you an accurate heat loss value. That number will be in thousands of BTUs. Every 12,000 BTUs indicates about one ton of heat loss for the building. A typical residence has an average heat loss of five to seven tons. Keep in mind that this is an average and not necessarily what your home needs.

The other important factor, decided by the HVAC contractor and the heat pump manufacturer, is the size, depth and number of the heat pumps to be installed in your home. A heat pump has a rating of efficiency. That number is called the COP, or coefficient of performance. In the early days of geothermal heat pumps, with a COP rating of 2 or 3, it was rule of thumb to use 150 feet of drilling for every ton of equipment installed in the home. As heat pumps became more and more efficient, their COP ratings grew to 4 and 5. Now, for every unit of energy put into a heat pump, it returns 4 or 5 units back into your home. While the heat pump can accept or reject more heat into the earth, linear footage must be added to help absorb that temperature. On average, the wells need to be 180-200 feet per ton.

3. Contact Mayer's Well Drilling

215-679-7817