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SourceThe International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Newsletter

March/April 2000 Volume 13, Number 2

Stay in the Loop

The

IGSHPA • Headquarters: Oklahoma State University

Inside. . .

Bulletin Board ..... 2

Geothermal: AnInvestment, Not anExpense ................ 3

Calendar .............. 6

Fred’s “FAQs”...... 7

The grandfatherc lause is availableto potential CGDcandidates this

year only.

In October of 1999, the InternationalGround Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) enteredinto a cooperative effort with the Association of EnergyEngineers (AEE) and the Geothermal Heat PumpConsortium (GHPC) to establish a certification programand raise the professional standards for those workingin geothermal heat pump design. This year, the CertifiedGeoExchange Designer Certification program is seekingdesign professionals who might qualify under the“grandfather clause.”

The grandfather clause has a short window ofopportunity. Applications must be sent to AEE byDecember 30, 2000. The forms can be obtained fromIGSHPA or AEE. Upon receipt of the application formand a $400.00 fee, the CGD Advisory Board will reviewthe applicant’s qualifications and make the determinationon granting certification.

Candidates applyingunder the grandfatherclause must either be aCertified Energy Manager,Registered Engineer, orRegistered Architect withthree years of combinedgeothermal heat pumpdesign, heating, ventilation,and air-conditioningexperience. Othercandidates may qualify ifthey have at least ten yearsor more of verifiablecombined experience inthe geothermal heat pump

design, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioningfield.

Once a CGD certification has been issued, theprofessional must continue to be active in the field andaccumulate continuing education credits. Eightprofessional credits are required over a three-year periodfrom the date of certification. Four credits over threeyears can be secured through continued employment ina combined geothermal heat pump design, heating,ventilation, and air-conditioning venture. Three creditsare achievable through membership in a professionalengineering society. Two additional credits can beaccrued through continuing professional educationalactivities in the geothermal heat pump design field.

If you are interested in this program, you need toact now. The grandfather clause is available to potential

CGD candidates this yearonly. Future candidatesmust participate in theIGSHPA designated CGDtraining course, and applyand be accepted to take thecertification test.

For information onthe educational opportuni-ties available under thisprogram, call the IGSHPAoffice at 1-800-627-4747.To obtain applicationforms, you may contactAEE at 4025 PleasantdaleRoad, Suite 420, Atlanta,GA 30340, 770-447-5083,Ext. 223.

You May Qualify – ACT NOW!

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490 Cordell South

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK, 74078-8018

Phone: 800-626-4747

Fax: 405-744-5283

www.igshpa.okstate.edu

The Source is published bimonthly by OSU InternationalGround Source Heat Pump Association, 490 Cordell South,Stillwater, OK, 74078-8018, as a service to the membership.Send questions, story ideas, photos, and comments to Editor,The Source, c/o IGSHPA, or call 800-626-4747. Visit our website at www.igshpa.okstate.edu.

Copyright 2000 by the Board of Regents for the OklahomaState University Agricultural and Mechanical College, all rightsreserved.

Use of copyrighted material is permitted, provided the reprintcredits IGSHPA and The Source, and a copy of the reprint issent to the IGSHPA office.

IGSHPA Advisory CouncilDan Ellis, ChairClimateMaster

Bill Dean, Vice ChairWaterFurnace International

Steve White, SecretaryPhillips Driscopipe

Billy Abner, East Kentucky Power Coop.

Phil Albertson, Ditch Witch

Larry Eitelman, Florida Heat Pump

Scott Jones, Econar Energy Systems Corp.

Morris Lovett, OG&E

Frank Migneco, GPU Energy

Howard Newton, Trane/Command-Aire

Chuck Perry, Carrier Corporation

David Phillips, Addison Products Company

Ron Robertson, Exelon Energy Services

Phil Schoen, Geo-Enterprises, Inc.

Chris Smith, Florida Heat Pump

Ex Officio Members

Lew Pratsch, DOE

Carl Hiller, EPRI

Conn Abnee, GHPC

IGSHPA StaffExecutive Director, Jim Bose

Assistant Director, Lisa McArthur

Director of Research, Marvin Smith

Development Engineer, Randy Perry

Special Projects/Training, Fred Jones

Web Master, Robert Jones

Publications Coordinator, Jeanne Knobbe

Special Projects, Jim Netherton

Training & Conference Coordinator, Heath Chelesvig

Training & Conference Assistant, Shelly Fitzpatrick

Finance & Membership Coordinator, Brenda Marlow

Membership Secretary, Kelli Hill

Student Assistants, Ryan Maxwell, Mandy Means,

Dustin Moore, Ivy Vincent

Down to Earth Energy

Bulletin Board

Directory ListingCorrection

The phone number and e-mailaddress for Michael Ericksen of EarthEnergy Systems Geothermal and HydronicHeating & Cooling is incorrect in the 2000Membership Directory. His correctinformation is:telephone number - 707-942-8173e-mail - earthenerg@aol.com

Ellis NamedClimateMasterPresident

Congratulations to IGSHPA AdvisoryCouncil Chairman Dan Ellis on hisappointment as the President ofClimateMaster, Inc. He takes over thepresidency from Jim Damiani.

Mr. Ellis has been active in the water-source heat pump industry since 1978.Starting at the contract and wholesaledistribution level, he helped to co-foundWaterFurnance International and servedas the company’s President and CEO.Since his tenure with ClimateMaster beganin 1995, Mr. Ellis has held several seniormanagement positions leading to this keyappointment as President. He is also veryactive in industry associations. Along withserving as IGSHPA’s Advisory CouncilChairman, Mr. Ellis leads a working groupin the International StandardsOrganization (ISO) on behalf of theAmerican Refrigeration Institute (ARI).This group recently established twointernational standards for water-sourceheat pumps. They were the firstinternational standards ever to be adoptedby ARI.

ClimateMaster is based in OklahomaCity, Oklahoma. Since the early 1950s,ClimateMaster has focused on theproduction of water-source heat pumps,manufacturing a complete line of units fora variety of commercial, industrial, andresidential applications. It is a whollyowned subsidiary of LSB Industries, Inc.

Loop ConnectionsMade Easier

WaterFurnace recently announcedthe release of its durable one-piececoupling device, the GeoLink. Accordingto WaterFurnace, customers can eliminatethe traditional fusion process by using theGeoLink. This rugged polyethylene fittingcreates a secure connection that rotates,making it especially helpful in narrowtrench installations. The GeoLink isdesigned to “bite” or get tighter as moretension is placed on the fitting. The fittingscome in several configurations. For moreinformation on this new product, see theWaterFurnace web site.http://geo.waterfurnace.com

3March/April 2000

The Source

Probably the largest hurdle to overcome when selling geothermalsystems is their higher first cost when compared to more traditionalHVAC alternatives. Installation and design methods are steadilyimproving, and better products like high-thermal-conductivity groutshelp to increase design efficiency, thereby reducing first costs.

In addition to improving their craft, geothermal professionals needother ways to convince residential customers that a geothermal systemis a viable and economically sound alternative. When comparinggeothermal technology with seemingly cheaper alternatives, the averagehomeowner needs a compelling reason to go ground source.

One way to illustrate to the prospective geothermal customer theeconomic benefits of this environmentally friendly technology is to talkabout life cycle costs. Life cycle cost analysis compares systems basedon what it will cost to own, operate, and maintain them over the courseof many years.

Figure A is an example of this type of analysis. Nine different HVACsystems were compared on a 25-year life-cycle-cost basis. The initialinstallation costs for a typical 1800 sq. ft. house are plotted on the left,with the geothermal system weighing in with the highest first cost (about$7800). Note, however, that on the right side of the graph, where the

total life cycle cost for each system is shown, the GHP system is thesecond-least expensive option at $23,100 for installation and 25 yearsof operation and maintenance.

The “Present Value Dollars” scale used on this chart is based onDepartment of Energy/Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DOE/ORNL) costand maintenance forecasts from a 1983 report. These energy costforecasts - made with the threat of fuel embargoes fresh on peoples’minds - did not pan out very well. The current wild swings in oil and gasprices are good examples of the kinds of events that make accurateenergy cost predictions nearly impossible. However, we can still get a

good comparison between systems using thesenumbers.

The system cost, energy use, and maintenancecost data came from a DOE/ORNL report featuringeight alternative systems for the same size house in115 cities across the United States. The vertical linesat the curve intersections show the payback years andthe corresponding return on investment (ROI) for theadded cost of the GHP system.

Recently another curve for the geothermalsystem, starting at $0 first cost, was added to reflect atypical resale value increase of $8000 for homes withgeothermal systems already installed. The resale valueincrease is the result of $400 lower annual heatingand cooling costs, times 20 (years of savings), asreported in a recent study conducted by ICF ConsultingGroup of Fairfax, Virginia, and peer reviewed by theAppraisal Institute. The ICF study validates a 1983study of 1317 actual home sales, which found anequivalent $20 increase in resale value for each dollarlower annual energy cost, compared to similar housessold.

When this $8000 resale credit is applied to thealready favorable operation and maintenance figures

of the geothermal system, the net effect is a $0 first cost and the lowest25-year life cycle cost of all the systems at $13,600.

Imagine how popular geothermal systems would be if word gotout that they are an investment, rather than an expense.

With a history in geothermal heat pumps that goes back to 1978,Phil Albertson still seeks to improve geothermal heat pumptechnology through research and development with Ditch Witch andeconomic analysis activities with IGSHPA.

Geothermal: An Investment, Not an ExpensePhil E. Albertson, PE

Figure A – 25-year cost analysis for nine HVAC alternatives.

4 Down to Earth Energy

Water Furnace

Learn Your ABC’s and ESP’s

Carrier - Supporting Higher Education

CARRIER Corporation recently organized an equipment donationprogram with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. JeffryCarter, Carrier Manager of Public Affairs for Residential and CommercialSystems, Indianapolis, IN, is working with local and regional distributorsin a 15-state area to meet the needs of the American Indian HigherEducation community. Five higher educational facilities utilizing thisprogram are currently under construction. This program allows theindividual school administrators to contact their local distributor. Thelocal Carrier Corporation distributor works with the project managerand administrator to secure the appropriate heating, air-conditioning,and ventilation system for their building.

American Indian Higher Education Consortium ProgramAdministrator Felice Neals has been visiting with IGSHPA AssistantDirector Lisa McArthur and GHPC Representative Jack DiEnna aboutthe possibility of using geothermal technology in some of the facilities.Two colleges have already expressed an interest in geothermal systems.

Anyone interested in adding their support to these efforts shouldcontact Felice Neals at 212-206-6580 or Lisa McArthur at 1-800-626-4747.

Frustrated by the never-ending confusion of energy services,performance contracting, and financing options? Unsure as to howderegulation will affect you and your customers? Attend the “ABC’s ofSchool and Facility Management” on April 18, 2000, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. atthe Hyatt Regency at Reunion in Dallas, Texas. This seminar is sponsoredby 3D International and is targeted to help school board officials, facilitysuperintendents, business managers, and project managers learn thebasics of facility energy services management.

The seminar will cover -1. Identifying potential facility improvement projects for schools,2. The industry-leading providers of energy schools, tools, and

products,3. Key information on important issues affecting your facility

decisions, such as utility deregulation, energy services,financing and building components such as HVAC, lighting,insulation, and other envelope improvements,

4. Reports from TX school officials who have experienced theenergy contracting and facility upgrades process themselves.

A complimentary School Facilities Guide will be distributed.Participants are also eligible to receive a pass to GlobalCon 2000 beingheld in Dallas from April 19-20, 2000. A limited number of passes willbe available with this seminar registration. The seminar is free of chargeto utility and school officials. For registration information call 713-871-7187. Organizations wishing to sponsor the event may call KathiKraft at 405-204-0908. Registration deadline is April 7, 2000.

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The Source

GrundfosOne of the most exciting projects the geothermal researchers atOklahoma State University are currently working on is a real-world trialof shallow heat exchanger technology. Articles in two issues of TheSource last year (September/October and November/December)described the process up to that point of installing an experimentalshallow heat exchanger system in a Stillwater restaurant. Now,construction on that restaurant is almost complete, and the owner plansto have the doors open for business sometime next month.

With that in mind, IGSHPA staff members have been working withthe management of Joseppi’s restaurant to arrange an evening receptionto showcase this new design.

The system you will see and hear about at the conference is anadd-on closed-loop system installed just below the restaurant’s parkinglot and concrete walkways. Through long-term seasonal data, OSUresearchers hope to show that this type of system can be used to averageout the annual heating load that large commercial geothermal systemsplace in the ground. In cooling-dominated climates, loop fields canbuild up heat over time. By rejecting heat near the surface, a shallowground loop has the potential to alleviate this problem.

The primary benefit of such a system would be a lower installationcost for a system with a smaller vertical bore field and a supplementalshallow heat exchanger versus a system with a larger bore field. Anadditional benefit of the system will be safer, ice-free walkways andparking areas during the winter months.

Come to the May Technical Conference and see the closed-loopsystem that could change geothermal system designs for years to come.

MayTech 2000 to ShowcaseShallow Heat Exchangers

Workers cover the loops with screenings before the concrete is poured.

6 Down to Earth Energy

Calendar of Events

April 19-20, 2000GLOBALCON 2000Dallas Convention Center; Dallas, TXAssociation of Energy Engineerswww.aeecenter.org770-447-5083Free Expo passes available to IGSHPA members –call Heath Chelesvig at 800-626-4747. Visit us atBooth 518 during the Expo!

May 11-13, 2000Radiant Heating Conference & Trade ShowRhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RIRadiant Panel Associationwww.rpa-info.com800-660-7187

May 14-17, 2000IGSHPA’s Technical Conference & ExpoOklahoma State University, Stillwater, OKInternational Ground Source Heat Pump Associationconference.igshpa.okstate.edu800-626-4747

June 18-20, 2000BOMA Annual ConventionSan Diego, CABuilding Owners & Managers Associationwww.boma.org202-326-6331

June 24-28, 2000ASHRAE Annual MeetingMinneapolis, MNAmerican Society of Heating, Refrigeration & AirConditioning Engineerswww.ashrae.org800-527-4723 or 404-636-8400

Mark YourCalendar!

Scientists Win Award forFriendly Grout

UPTON, NY – Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’sBrookhaven National Laboratory have received an award for a three-year research program credited with reviving the geothermal heat pumpindustry in northern New Jersey. The award, from the Eastern Heatingand Cooling Council, recognizes Brookhaven’s success in developinggrout that meets New Jersey’s strict environmental standards whileincreasing the efficiency of this technology.

The main advantage of geothermal heat pumps is that they heatand cool buildings without burning fossil fuels. Instead, water-filledpipes draw heat from or dump heat into the ground 200 to 300 feetbelow the surface. If the grout surrounding the heat-exchange pipescracks or shrinks, however, the boreholes housing the pipes can channelsurface runoff contaminants directly into the groundwater. This concernand the poor performance of conventional grouts led the New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to ban their use in1998.

“The whole industry came to a grinding halt,” says Brookhavenmaterials engineer Marita Berndt, who was contracted by the New JerseyHeat Pump Council for help. Brookhaven was already working on groutswith increased thermal conductivity. These grouts also had advantagesin terms of sealing capability, reduced shrinkage and improved crackresistance. Brookhaven performed additional tests to ensure that theirformulation would meet the NJDEP requirements.

“This is a great example of scientists working together with industryand environmental regulators to solve a real world problem,” Berndtsays.

The new grout, called Mix 111, is composed of cement, water,silica sand and small amounts of superplasticizer and bentonite.Brookhaven does not manufacture the substance, but rather, has madethe formula available to the industry.

“The whole objective was to come up with something people inthe geothermal heat pump industry could use. They can buy theingredients themselves and mix it themselves to keep the cost down,”Berndt says.

Experimental tests have shown that Mix 111 is less likely to beinfiltrated by water, bonds more firmly to pipes, and is much moreresistant to shrinkage and failure than conventional grouts. Numericalanalysis was performed by A.J. Philippacopoulos to examine heat transfercharacteristics and thermal stresses developed in the grout underoperational conditions. Furthermore, when tested in two differentclimates and geological areas, Mix 111 was 29 to 35 percent moreefficient at heat transfer than traditional grout.

Mix 111 is now approved for use in New Jersey. It has alreadybeen used in several residential and commercial projects throughoutthe U.S., and has proven to be cost-effective.

7March/April 2000

The Source

Q: I need to replace the air conditioning and heating units in my house. Howhard would it be to install a geothermal system instead?

A: Installing a retrofit system using a ground source heat pump will be similar to replacingyour current system. The main difference will be the installation of a ground heatexchanger. There are a number of things that will need to be taken into consideration - chief among these is the need for adequate spaceto install the ground heat exchanger. Lot size will be the determining factor. Smaller residential lots may require the use of a compactSlinky heat exchanger or a vertical bore application. Your IGSHPA accredited contractor or installer will be able to determine what isbest for your situation.

On the inside, check for adequate insulation and proper duct size. A properly sized and rated heat pump can fit in most utilityclosets, so indoor space is rarely a problem. Units can also be installed in basements, or sometimes in the attic. Check with your utilityabout special cost-saving electric rates or rebate programs that may apply to ground source systems.

If you have a question about the ground source heat pump industry for Fred, email him at jfred@okstate.edu

Fred’s FAQsby Fred Jones

Hydro Pump

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven NationalLaboratory creates and operates major facilities available touniversity, industrial, and government personnel for basic andapplied research in the physical, biomedical and environmentalsciences and in selected energy technologies. The Laboratory isoperated by Brookhaven Science Associates, a not-for-profit researchmanagement company, under contract with the U.S. Department ofEnergy.

Hydraulic Institute Hosts Meeting

This February, the Hydraulic Institute (HI) of Parsippany, NJ, hosteda meeting of the international pump standards committee ISO/TC-115,the first such meeting to be hosted in the United States. This meetingsaw the creation of US-led Subcommittee 3, which is responsible forthe standardization of pump installation, selection, piping, and controls.While not directly tied to the geothermal industry, this committee’s workwill affect pump manufacturers like Grundfos and Geo-Flo.

Andrea Johnson, Standards Associate with the American PetroleumInstitute, commented, “We are pleased with the progress made at thismeeting.”