Evaluate sustainable businesses

Geothermal projects                                                                                                        

Estacada geothermal project

This is an 11,000 sf custom home under construction near Estacada.  There are three separate water-to-air geothermal heat pump units of various sizes installed in the home.  All units are located in closet type spaces or in the garage.  The second picture in the middle is the unit located in the RV garage, about 12 feet above the ground on a shelf.   Please see the Photo Gallery for more pictures of this, and other projects.

There are two primary types of heating systems used with geo-exchange heat pumps including, forced-air and radiant floor systems.  Forced-air systems are the most common because they use standard duct work to transport conditioned air through out the home.  Radiant floor systems are much more efficient and comfortable because they actually heat the floor rather than the air.  Since warm air rises they maintain a more relatively constant temperature and they don't produce huge blasts of hot and cold air.  They do require a ventiliation system because heating the floor does not provide fresh air.  They also typically require a separate cooling system.  Geo-exchange forced air systems on  the other hand, are capable of providing both heating and cooling.  This is because they use a duct work system to distribute conditioned air.

Geo-exchange Heat Pumps work in much the same way as a refrigerator. Rather than generating heat through the combustion of fossil fuels, a heat pump merely transfers heat back and forth between the ground and the building. The earth is constantly absorbing energy from the sun so it acts as a heat sink, or repository of heat for future use. In the winter the heat pump extracts heat from the ground, and in the summer the process is reversed by rejecting heat back to the ground.

Because there is no direct consumption of fossil fuels and because it uses the equivalent of approximatey ten 90-watt light bulbs in electricity, a geo-exchange heat pump is more efficient, cost-effective and more beneficial for the environment than natural gas or oil-fired furnaces. According to the US Dept. of Energy, 40% of all CO₂emissions come from space heating and cooling.  That's almost as much as auto emissions. The basic concept of geothermal heat pumps, the transfer of heat between the earth and buildings, is illustrated with the following graphic.

 
The earth is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than the outside air.  Transferring heat back and forth between the earth and the building is a relatively simple process, therefore you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer with a geothermal heat pump.

In addition to geothermal heat pumps we also sell tankless water heaters, heat recovery ventilators and electric radiant floor systems.  Call us to find out how we can make your home or office more energy efficient.

Geo-exchange heat pumps provide comfortable space heating and cooling, and they can also be used to heat domestic hot water. Geo-exchange heat pumps are electrically powered systems that transfer heat back and forth between the earth and your building. The reduction in CO₂ emissions is also significant because heat pumps do not burn fossil fuels. A geo-exchange heat pump must be installed by a licensed contractor in order to qualify for energy tax credits.

More information on geothermal heat pumps, remewable energy and energy efficiency: (requires Adobe or Flash Player)

Geothermal Heat Pump Information Survival Kit - Oregon Institute of Technology Geo-Heat Center

The Future of Geothermal Energy - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Modern Heating & Cooling for Historic Structures - Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium

Refer to the heat pump schematic below or check out the Sustainability page for more information on geo-exchange heat pumps.