Geothermal Heating Definition:
Geo (Earth) + thermal (heat)= an enormous energy resource that is clean (emits no little or not green house gases), reliable (available 24 hours a day/365 days a year), and homegrown (making us less dependent on foreign oil).
Geothermal Systems, also known as Ground Source Heat Pumps, take advantage of the earth’s constant temperature (45 degrees to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) to heat and cool a building.
Ground Source Heat Pumps work by circulating water or a water/antifreeze mixture through a closed loop of pipe that is buried in the ground or set under water in different configurations to extract heat in the winter and reject it in the summer.
The systems transfer heat between the constant temperature of the earth and the building to maintain the building’s interior space conditions. Water or water/antifreeze mixture is circulated between the building and the “ground loop” piping buried in the ground. In the summer, the water picks up heat from the building and moves it to the ground. In the winter the fluid picks up heat from the ground and moves it to the building. Much like a refrigerator’s compressor transfers heat fro inside the refrigerator to the outside. The use of thermal energy makes a Geothermal Heat Pump systems 3 to 5 times more efficient than conventional systems.
Advantages of Geothermal Heat Pumps:
• Low Maintenance
• No Exposed Outdoor Equipment
• Low Environmental Impact
• Very Quiet
• No Carbon Monoxide In Your Home
• Low Operating Cost
• 30% Federal Tax Credit on the cost of the whole system.
Requirements for Geothermal Applications:
• A well insulated home with Low E glass windows is best.
• System must be properly sized.
• Sealed, insulated and oversized ducts are essential to maintain system efficiency and comfort.
• Homes where air leakage has been mitigated. Contact a BPI certified contractor in your area: For the Chenango, Otsego, Delaware and Sullivan Counties contact Primo Construction. For the Utica, NY Region Contact Advanced Energy Systems To schedule a blower door test and energy audit.
• At least 1 acre of land if using Horizontal loops or space for drilling vertical wells.
Please note that Geothermal is best suited for new construction but can be retrofitted to existing homes if modifications can be made to the existing heating system. Sometimes complete replacement of the existing heating system is required. It is not a direct drop in replacement for oil heat.
Our Experience:
Great Brook Solar NRG, LLC has over 30 years experience. Established in 1978 for the purpose of providing alternatives to ”conventional” energy sources that have been growing more expensive and less available.
We offer the most experienced renewable energy system sales and installations in Upstate New York. Dave Austin, CEO is NABCEP certified and has had continuous field experience since 1978. Our installers are all educated and knowledgeable in the installation and service of the systems we install.
Great Brook Solar NRG, LLC pride ourselves on our top level of workmanship. We pay attention to details and will treat your property as if it was our own. Our 32 years of experience and satisfied customers say it all.
We design each system to fit our customer’s unique needs. We will keep you informed through every step of the installation process.
If you would like more information or would like to schedule a site survey, please call us.
Great Brook Solar NRG, LLC
819 County Road 28
South New Berlin, NY 13843
607-847-6366
Our Warranty:
• 2 Year System Limited Warranty
• Heat Pump 2 Year – all parts
• 5 Year Refrigeration Components
• Ground Loop Piping 50 Year
• Pond Loop Piping 20 Years
Call us for a copy of our complete warranty.
NOTES on HEAT SOURCES, Building prerequisites and EFFICIENCY:
Good sources of heat for the system to work effectively are either 1 acre space for horizontal ground loops, a 12 foot or deeper pond or a well with high quality water and at least 12 gallons per minutes or better recovery rate.
Geothermal heating works very well with warm water radiant floors (in floor heating) and other forms of radiant heat such as cast iron radiators. It does not work well with hot water baseboard.
In addition you must have a well insulated fully weatherized home (to at least NY energy code standards). Heat pumps don't work well in drafty poorly insulated homes. Please consider upgrading your insulation and weatherization before inquiring about GSHPs. Our site surveys are free However, for a complete system design and proposal we charge $200. This fee goes toward purchase of a system. Site survey is required for a price quote. If you are more than 1 hour from our location the fee increases by $50 per additional hour. Fee is not refundable. Although we apply it towards the down payment.
Ground-source heat pumps Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
We are fully IGSHPA certified installers
In New York, thousands of homes and businesses are being heated and cooled by a system that bridges the gap between high technology and affordable energy efficiency-the ground-source heat pump sometimes called a Geothermal Heat Pump. Consumers are searching for better ways to get more out of their energy dollar. Many have found the ground-source heat pump can help.
To learn about IGSHPA, ground source heat pump news and events
The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of geothermal heat pump (GHP) technology on local, state, national, and international levels. IGSHPA fulfills its mission by:
Conducting research in GHP technology organizing two GHP conferences annually offering a wide variety of GHP training advising government agencies and utilities informing consumers producing educational and marketing materials providing a valuable link among government agencies, research institutions, manufacturers, utilities, dealers, contractors, and installers.
IGSHPA is based on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK, where GHP technology was developed.
For additional description of what Ground Source heating and cooling is and other info:
For more information call 607-847-6366
Notes:
Additional expense may be necessary when retrofitting. With Air distribution systems the duct work must be well sealed with taped joints and wrapped with insulation. The building must be well insulated including the foundation. The building needs to be air sealed. Call a Building Performance Institute Certified contractor for details. A list can be found at www.getenergysmart.org
We serve the following New York State Counties for Geothermal Heat Pump installations: Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Madison, Oneida, Montgomery and Herkimer . Other Locations will be considered on a case by case basis. We are also restricting our GSHP site surveys and quotes to sites with at least the minimum qualifications in the notes above. If you are interested in a career in selling, designing, installing and servicing Ground Source heat pumps and solar thermal systems we ARE interested in talking with you. Contact us for more info. Engineering or technical background required.
Great Brook Solar NRG LLC
819 County Rd 28
South New Berlin, NY 13843
Phone 607-847-6366
FAX 607-847-9253 (9 to 6 E.T. M-F only)
