Comments on: Heating And Cooling With Geothermal Heat Pumps http://newenergydirection.com/blog/2008/10/heating-and-cooling-with-geothermal-heat-pumps/ Exploring alternative energy. There is no filler here, only quality information. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:16:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kim http://newenergydirection.com/blog/2008/10/heating-and-cooling-with-geothermal-heat-pumps/comment-page-1/#comment-6742 Kim Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:11:29 +0000 http://newenergydirection.com/blog/?p=173#comment-6742 I think it is fantastic how the stimulus funds are making a difference. They are being taken advantage of all the time with the installation of geothermal heat pumps to replace high energy heating and cooling systems. I think it is fantastic how the stimulus funds are making a difference. They are being taken advantage of all the time with the installation of geothermal heat pumps to replace high energy heating and cooling systems.

]]> By: admin http://newenergydirection.com/blog/2008/10/heating-and-cooling-with-geothermal-heat-pumps/comment-page-1/#comment-5 admin Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:44:35 +0000 http://newenergydirection.com/blog/?p=173#comment-5 An air-to-air heat pump doesn't use a ground loop. So there is no energy exchange with the ground. There is only energy exchange with the outside air. This saves a lot on excavation cost, but it's use is limited to areas that have mild (not too cold) winters. For a heat pump to be most efficient it has to pump heat across a temperature difference that isn't "too steep". So in an air-to-air heat pump during the winter, you are "removing" heat from the outdoors and "pumping" it indoors. The colder it is outside the harder it is to do this. Eventually as it gets colder your COP approaches 1. If it's colder than about -5 deg C outside the performance of your unit will really decrease. So it's good to have a backup heating system, like electric or gas, if it gets too cold. The specific temperature cut-off will depend on the specs of the air-to-air heat pump you're using. An air-to-air heat pump doesn’t use a ground loop. So there is no energy exchange with the ground. There is only energy exchange with the outside air. This saves a lot on excavation cost, but it’s use is limited to areas that have mild (not too cold) winters. For a heat pump to be most efficient it has to pump heat across a temperature difference that isn’t “too steep”. So in an air-to-air heat pump during the winter, you are “removing” heat from the outdoors and “pumping” it indoors. The colder it is outside the harder it is to do this. Eventually as it gets colder your COP approaches 1.

If it’s colder than about -5 deg C outside the performance of your unit will really decrease. So it’s good to have a backup heating system, like electric or gas, if it gets too cold. The specific temperature cut-off will depend on the specs of the air-to-air heat pump you’re using.

]]> By: Chase Saunders http://newenergydirection.com/blog/2008/10/heating-and-cooling-with-geothermal-heat-pumps/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Chase Saunders Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:56:41 +0000 http://newenergydirection.com/blog/?p=173#comment-4 Loved this article. I live in Maine. The energy consultant who looked at my house said geothermal wouldn't be cost-effective, but has recommended an air-to-air heat pump. Can you explain the differences? Loved this article. I live in Maine. The energy consultant who looked at my house said geothermal wouldn’t be cost-effective, but has recommended an air-to-air heat pump. Can you explain the differences?

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