New Guide Helps Avoid Pitfalls in Ground-Source Heat Pump Design

“There is a widely held view that anything bearing the name ‘geothermal,’ ‘ground source,’ or ‘earth energy’ will produce the desired high efficiency and low operating cost,” according to Steve Kavanaugh, author of the guide along with Kevin Rafferty (to test those assumptions, see Ground-Source Heat Pumps: Are They Green?). “As a result, poorly designed systems are often installed, and building owners’ expectations are unmet.” Inefficient pumping, high-cost ground-loop designs, inadequate outside-air provisions, and unnecessarily complex control schemes are some of the most common problems.

“Geothermal Heating and Cooling: Design of Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems” updates the guidance to include information on site characterization and the latest equipment and piping.

As demand for ground-source heat pumps continues to grow—the market for commercial buildings is expected to grow nearly 5% faster than the climate-control market as a whole, according to a study by Frost and Sullivan—this guide could help smart design and installation of these systems keep pace.