Our geothermal heating and cooling system components

When we design and install a geothermal heating and cooling system, we use quality, reliable components to ensure your system will operate effectively and efficiently for many years to come. At Smith Sustainable Design, we use components manufactured by Rehau, a leader in geothermal component design.

The RAUGEO™ line of components includes features that combine to create a more secure geothermal heating and cooling system. These components are cost effective and easier for us to install versus other manufacturers’ products, meaning less install time and expense for our homeowners. Here are some of the RAUGEO™ products we use:

• RAUGEO PEXa Pipe: This flexible piping material requires fewer fittings than HDPE piping, saving you money on additional components. RAUGEO PEXa piping provides excellent resistance to impact, earth movement, and rock impingement, and we trust it for its durability.
• EVERLOC Fittings: REHAU EVERLOC brass compression-sleeve fittings allow for secure connections between ground loop components. Their heat shrink wrap protects the fittings from corrosive soils which may be present.
• PRO-BALANCE XP Manifolds: By using a PRO-BALANCE XP manifold, we can easily optimize your geothermal heating and cooling system. These manifolds include balancing valves, flow meters, and isolation valves which allow for easy access and control of the ground loop.
• RAUGEO U-bends: Using the RAUGEO PEXa piping, bends can be bent in a tight 180-degree radius and cast in fiberglass-reinforced polyester resin, eliminating the need for connections and potential leaks.
• RAUGEO Double U-bends: These double u-bends extract more energy than the typical vertical loop components and offers higher security against ground loop failures. RAUGEO Double U-bends feature seamless technology, just as the single u-bends. These components are built to resist damage caused during borehole insertion and remove the risks associated with underground joints.

At Smith Sustainable Design, we use top-quality components to ensure our customers receive long-lasting performance and satisfaction with their geothermal heating and cooling system. We are confident that the products we install and the systems we design will offer you optimal energy savings and durability. For more information about the components we use when installing a geothermal heating and cooling system, contact Smith Sustainable Design anytime.

How do geothermal heating systems transfer heat?

The way a traditional furnace transfers heat is easy for most people to understand- but how do geothermal heating systems transfer heat? With a geothermal heating system, there is no combustion like with a gas or fossil fuel-powered furnace. The energy source for these systems lies beneath the ground.

Geothermal heating systems work by transferring heat from one area to another. They work very similarly to the refrigerator in your kitchen, which moves hot air out of the interior to keep perishable food cool. Geothermal heating systems transfer heat from the earth into your home to keep you warm in the winter, and transfers heat from your home back into the earth in the summer to keep you cool.

The ground loop which is installed in conjunction with geothermal heating systems uses fluids to absorb the warm temperatures from within the ground to heat a home. When the earth is warmer than the fluid in the ground loop, the fluid works to absorb the warmer temperatures and moves this energy back to your home. Just like a refrigerator or traditional air conditioner, geothermal heating systems use a refrigerant, like Freon. The refrigerant allows the system to extract heat from the fluid inside your ground loop.

As you may know, geothermal heating systems provide not only heating, but cooling as well. When cooling is needed, the same principles are at work, except heat is drawn from your home and travels back into the cool earth through the warm loop fluid. Geothermal heating systems work simply by transferring heat from one place to the next- no combustion needed!

Geothermal heating systems transfer heat much differently than a traditional furnace. Because they lack the use of combustible fuels and use natural energy from within the earth, geothermal heating systems use less energy and are an efficient choice for many homes. To learn more about how geothermal heating systems work, or to schedule a consultation for your home, contact Smith Sustainable Design today.

Improve the efficiency of your geothermal heating system by duct sealing

There are many ways homeowners can further improve the efficiency of their geothermal heating systems. One way you can drastically improve efficiency is by performing duct sealing. Gaps or broken sections in your duct work cause air loss, leading to energy waste and inefficiency. By sealing these areas, you’ll keep your conditioned air in the duct system and flowing into your living areas for maximum efficiency.

Sealing duct leaks keep more of your conditioned air traveling to your living areas, rather than allowing it to escape the duct system. Duct system allows your geothermal heating system to work less to keep your home comfortable. When air is lost through breaks and openings in the duct system, your geothermal heating system has to work longer and harder to make up for the loss, using more energy than it really needs. By decreasing the run-time of your system, you will lower your energy bills even further than you already have by installing a geothermal heat system.

Your duct work is likely located in an unconditioned area, like your attic, crawlspace, or basement. If your duct work is easily accessible, you can perform an inspection and the necessary sealing to improve the performance of your duct work. Check for:

• Loose joints and fittings
• Fallen duct work sections
• Gaps around connections to registers and return air grills

Duct sealing can be a simple procedure, but many homeowners don’t know the right technique. Contrary to popular belief, duct tape shouldn’t be used to perform lasting duct work repairs. A compound called mastic should be applied to the duct work, as it dries solid and provides a permanent fix for duct issues. If you cannot easily access your duct work, it is best to call in a professional to perform safe and reliable duct sealing for your home.

Duct sealing is a great way you can improve the performance of your geothermal heating system. Simple solutions like duct sealing can result in major energy savings, and help improve the lifespan of your equipment. If you have any questions about duct sealing, or other ways you can improve your geothermal heating system’s performance, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Ground source heat pumps for commercial buildings

For efficient, cost effective heating and cooling, many businesses are turning to ground source heat pumps instead of traditional commercial furnaces and air conditioners. Their versatility makes a ground source heat pump a great option for nearly all types commercial properties, and they can be used in new construction or retrofit for existing structures.

Commercial benefits of ground source heat pumps:

• Dual heating and cooling capabilities- cool certain areas while heating others
• Zoning compatibility provides increased control over energy consumptions and the comfort of those inside
• 50-year warranties on ground loop piping
• Quiet operation, eliminating disruptions
• Eliminate copper theft risks of outdoor air conditioning units
• Lower maintenance needs and cost
• Requires less indoor space to house mechanical equipment

Ground source heat pumps offer commercial savings:

• Longer equipment life means less replacement cost versus traditional commercial heating and cooling systems
• Little maintenance needs, reducing facility maintenance expenses
• Energy savings of up to 50% annually
• Save on water heating by using waste heat from the ground source heat pump’s air conditioning cycle
• Installing a ground source heat pump may qualify your company for rebates from your utility providers, as well as federal tax credits for building owners
• Lower your facility’s emissions level by using clean, geothermal energy instead of burning fossil fuels
• Reduce pollution with no external venting in the system’s design
• Eliminate the need for gas or other utilities used in heating and cooling- ground source heat pump systems are total electric

Ground source heat pumps and geothermal systems offer great advantages for businesses and other organizations occupying commercial facilities. Going geothermal can greatly reduce your facility’s operating costs and will help you develop an environmentally-conscious corporate identity. Smith Sustainable Design is an experienced commercial geothermal system designer and installer, and can help your business make the switch to ground source heat pumps to heat and cool your facility. Contact us today to discuss your energy needs.

How deep is your geothermal heat system’s loop?

Geothermal heat systems are made up of two main components: the heat pump and the ground loop. While the geothermal heat pump is above ground and accessible, the ground loop is laid below your lawn to collect geothermal energy for heating and cooling your home. One big question many homeowners and business owners have about installing geothermal heat system is how deep does the ground loop need to be buried?

Depending on the lay of the land, the underground features, and the size and design of your system, the depth of the ground loop will vary. The amount of space available for installation is a determining factor also. If there is a large amount of space available, the ground loop may be laid horizontally rather than vertically. This means your ground loop doesn’t have to be dug straight down, which may be necessary on smaller lots. When the available space is limited, the ground loop must be dug vertically in order to meet the needs of the system while keeping within the confines of the space.

Another determining factor of how deep the ground loop will be buried has to do with budget. Horizontal ground loops are a cost effective way to bury this network of piping, as they are typically not placed as deep as vertical ground loops. The size of the geothermal heat system needed to heat and cool your home will also help determine the depth and placement of your ground loop.

All these factors will be considered when determining the placement and depth of your geothermal heat system’s ground loop. With these factors in mind, Smith Sustainable Design will design an appropriate and effective ground loop which will collect the geothermal energy used to heat and cool your home. Before installation, we’ll discuss the design of your system, as well as the placement and depth of your geothermal ground loop, and address any questions you may have. Contact us today to learn more about placing a ground loop for your new geothermal heat system.

Sizing geothermal heating systems

Before installing a geothermal heating system, many important decisions are made to ensure your home will be equipped with a reliable, efficient way to heat and cool your space. One major determination which must be made before designing the ground loop which will gather geothermal energy is the appropriate size for your system. Sizing your system properly will help your home maintain the comfort and savings you’ll expect from your geothermal heating system.

An oversized geothermal heating system

Oversizing your geothermal heating system means the heat pump is too large for your space, your home’s insulation, and the needs created by your climate. When your geothermal heating system has a heat pump that is larger than needed, you’re getting more heating power than what is required for your space; oversizing means you may be paying more than necessary for higher capacity equipment. This extra expense can extend your payback period.

An undersized geothermal heating system

If your geothermal heating system is sized too small, your system won’t be capable of heating and cooling your home as efficiently. When geothermal heating systems are undersized, they must work harder and expend more energy in order to keep your home comfortable. This can lead to much higher operating costs than expected from a geothermal heating system, eliminating much of the savings you expect to gain when switching to a geothermal system. While installation costs are lower when a system is undersized, overall operating costs will be much higher than with a system that was sized correctly.

Installing a geothermal heating system is a significant investment for any home. Working with an experienced geothermal heating system contractor will help ensure you are getting the right system for your needs. Smith Sustainable Design has years of experience designing and installing geothermal heating systems, and takes great care to create the proper system design which will allow you to experience the savings and comfort you expect. Contact us today to learn more about properly sizing your home’s new geothermal heating system.

The effects of geothermal heating and cooling systems on property value

Many decisions homeowners make regarding remodeling rooms, upgrading appliances, and adding features to their homes have to do with comfort, convenience, and need. Homeowners also evaluate whether or not the improvement will affect the value of their home, which is an important consideration when determining return on investment. Geothermal heating and cooling systems are no different; they are a significant investment and homeowners often 

wonder the impact they will have on property value.

While there is no definitive answer on how geothermal heating and cooling systems affect property value, but many will say they either do not affect the value, or that they increase the value. There’s no solid data available to answer the property value question because often times, there aren’t comparable homes which have sold in the area that have geothermal systems. This means your appraiser or realtor may not be able to tell you with certainty that your geothermal heating and cooling system is an added value.

Because of the lack of consumer knowledge about geothermal heating and cooling systems, they can be overlooked when potential buyers evaluate your home. Many people do not recognize the energy savings benefits and lower operating costs associated with geothermal, and may think it’s just a typical furnace in your home. While geothermal heating and cooling systems are becoming more common, many people still do not know about their benefits, leading some to believe the system will not noticeably increase your property value.

On the other hand, geothermal heating and cooling systems are also thought to increase property value. Those who are aware of their benefits recognize the energy saving potential these systems offer. For homebuyers who are looking for sustainable systems and features, a geothermal heating and cooling system is an asset.

Either way, geothermal heating and cooling systems generally do not decrease your property value when installed correctly. It is important to work with a trusted contractor when installing a geothermal heating and cooling system to protect your home’s value and eliminate risks associated with faulty installation which can lower the property value. Smith Sustainable Design is a full service engineering, construction management, and installation provider, offering quality, reliable installation for residential and commercial geothermal heating and cooling systems. Contact us today to discuss a new geothermal heating and cooling system for your home.