Geothermal energy?

[NeilBlanchard]

Helloe,

Here's the website of a local geothermal company (Hudson, NH & Concord, MA):

Northeastern Geothermal

I'm going to talk to them about how a system would work for my Mom's house. It looks like they use an easier method than some....

[diesel_john]

Originally Posted by IndyIan

I have never dropped a thermometer down the ice fishing hole but its my understanding that the whole lake is basically at the same temperature, if any water is significantly warmer it rises to the surface, gets cooled and drops again. But your system assumes this and still get the 4 to 1 return which is fantastic. Ian

I think your right in the dead of winter, the lakes around here, at least, are about the same temperature all the way down. Except for the ice on top. In the summer of course, temperature varies with depth.

NeilBlanchard, that diagonal well idea would simplify the manifolding.

I like the closed loop systems, I think open loop is what gave geothermal a bad rap. Any time something is going to save you money, everyone else wants a piece of the savings. For some reason some HVAC installers think they are suppose to make more money on a geothermal system than an air to air. But then down at the diner during lunch, I hear how easy it was to install the geothermal in their own house.

[topak]

hmm.,can you guys tell me more about heat pumps?

[diesel_john]

Welcome topak,
they are air conditioners in reverse. they can move 2 to 4 times the amount of energy, than they are consuming from the electric company.

[diesel_john]

After working on the project 3 months part time, the closed pond loop, geothermal heat pump is heating the house. With outside temp at -9F below 0 last nite and inside setpoint at 74F, the inside temp stayed above 73F all nite. Incoming antifreeze temp was 36.8 F and outgoing temp was 29.4 F. Total amp draw for the 36000 BTU system was 13 amps @ 238VAC. So for 10550 BTU's of electricity the heat pump is producing about 36000 BTU's of heat. Or about 3.4 times the input. I am currently waiting for my next electric bill to compare. This system is also heating all my domestic hot water.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi John,

That's great -- thanks for the update! I wish I could do something with geothermal -- I live on a lot of ledge...

[diesel_john]

Another interesting observation after the pond froze over the temp at the bottom has increased several degrees. Maybe I should start a new thread with this now that I am actually starting to get some data.