ASHRAE Journal - July 2009 - 66

Sustainable Products Capabilities Advertising Section Warming Up to Geothermal Vertical Loops are used extensively where land area is limited. A pair of pipes with a special U-Bend assembly at the bottom is inserted into a borehole that averages between 150 to 250 feet in depth per ton of equipment. Lake Loops are usually very economical to install. If a pond or lake at least 8 feet deep is available, lake loops can utilize the water (rather than soil) for heat transfer. Reduced installation costs are characteristic of this type of loop system. Open Loop installations actually pump water from an underground aquifer through the geothermal unit and then discharge that water to a drainage ditch or pond. Discharging water to a pond or lake is considered ideal. By now you’re probably asking just how much all this is going to cost. Actually, geothermal is now more affordable than ever thanks to recent changes to the tax code. The change contains long-term tax incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy technology such as geothermal heat pumps, in homes and businesses. The bill also extends tax incentives for homes and commercial buildings that support the installation of highly-efficient heating, cooling, and water heating systems, such as geothermal heat pumps until the year 2016. On all residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pump installations, a one-time tax credit of 30% of the total investment up to a maximum of $2,000 for systems placed in service during 2008 in available. For property placed in service after January 1, 2009, a tax credit of 30% with no limit can be claimed. The tax credit can be used to offset both regular income taxes and alternative minimum taxes (AMT) and can be carried forward into future years. With these changes a homeowner can now more easily afford a heating and cooling system that will ultimately pay for itself. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, ClimateMaster, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of water-source and geothermal heat pumps. For over 50 years, ClimateMaster has been focused on enhancing business and home environments around the world. ClimateMaster, Inc. is a company of LSB Industries, Inc. whose common stock is traded over the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LXU. For more information, visit www.climatemaster.com. Giant wind turbines look vivid on the horizon, and solar panels make striking statements on a rooftop regarding your efforts to conserve energy while decreasing your environmental impact. Geothermal, however, has none of these visual indicators, yet it yields more dramatic savings to your bottom line. The best part - there is no requirement of wind or sun to operate geothermal; only the earth beneath your feet. Are you warming up yet? The earth absorbs almost 50% of all solar energy and remains a nearly constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F depending on geographic location. Working with an underground loop system, a geothermal unit utilizes the constant temperature of the earth to exchange energy between your home and the earth as needed for heating, cooling and hot water. In winter, water circulating inside a sealed loop absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the unit. Here it is compressed to a higher temperature and sent as warm air to your indoor system for distribution throughout your home. In the summer, the system reverses and expels heat from your home to the cooler earth via the loop system. This heat exchange process is not only natural, but is a truly earth friendly and highly efficient way to create a comfortable climate in your home. With a geothermal heating and cooling system, your lawn becomes a permanent power plant for your home or business. It’s tried and true, can cut utility bills more than half, and does away with noisy air conditioning condensers. You’ll enjoy the benefits of the most comfortable, reliable, energy and cost efficient heating, cooling and water heating systems available on the market. Depending on your property size, the underground loops can be installed in a variety of ways including horizontal, vertical or within a lake as a closed loop or, if an aquifer is present, as an open loop virtually suiting any property configuration. Horizontal Loops are installed in areas where the soil conditions allow for economical excavation. Taking up more land area than any other loop type, they are used where space permits. Trenches are normally 5 feet deep and several hundred feet of trench is required. 66 ASHRAE Journal ashrae.org July 2009

ASHRAE Journal - July 2009

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