With fuel costs skyrocketing and with concerns about foreign energy dependence and climate change, the popularity of using the stable temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes and businesses is increasing. When properly designed and installed, ground source heat pumps (a.k.a. geothermal heat pumps or GHPs) not only reduce energy costs, but they also lower maintenance costs and extend equipment life. When compared to oil or natural gas-fired boilers or furnaces, GHPs can often cut energy costs by 50% or more. Additionally, GHPs are considered a sustainable or “green” technology, as they efficiently reclaim and recycle thermal energy from the earth.
Ground source heat pump systems incorporate a piping loop buried in the ground, which is considerably warmer than the outdoor air in winter and cooler than the outdoor air in summer. Either water or another fluid is circulated through the loop system, and a heat exchanger is used to extract heat from the fluid during winter or to add heat to the fluid during summer. There are three principal types of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) and there are several variations on each of these principal types:
1. Ground-coupled heat pumps (GCHP)
2. Ground water heat pumps (GWHP)
3. Surface water heat pumps (SWHP)
The selection of the best GSHP is largely dependent on the geological and thermal characteristics of a site. Where ample ground water is available, ground water heat pumps often are the most cost-effective system. Following an examination of the site geology and the heating and cooling loads of the building, ARM Energy Solutions’ experienced geologists and engineers can select the geothermal system that will operate at the highest efficiency and lowest cost.
From residential sites to large manufacturing facilities, ARM Energy Solutions has the resources to provide “turn key” geothermal system design-build services. For larger projects, AES forms and manages an expert team of experienced mechanical contractors, mechanical engineers, and drilling contractors to design and build highly effective, quality-assured geothermal systems on schedule and on budget.