GeoConnected

Geo-Connections Is Now Part of Dandelion

2018-03-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are proud to announce that the tools that we have built over the past decade will now be offered through Dandelion, and we will be working hard to add to this toolset over the coming months. Geo-Connections and Dandelion have been working together on some software projects over the past year. As we’ve worked together, it’s become clear to everyone involved that we are uniquely

PACE + Geothermal

2017-11-22T09:50:00.000-06:00

Ryan Green of Midwest Machinery Denver shares an overview of what PACE financing is and why it works so well for financing geothermal installations. Duration: ~19 minutes About the Presenter Ryan GreenMidwest Machinery DenverRyan Green has over 6 years of experience in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector, specializing in HVAC system retrofits, building energy use analysis and

LoopLink GSE Update

2017-11-20T11:53:00.000-06:00

Our geothermal savings estimation API, LoopLink GSE, recently received an update to improve accuracy and performance. We will start with what got better then talk a little about technical changes that will impact customer implementations. More Accurate Utility Rates In version 1 of the GSE API, we took statewide average utility rates and applied them to any search which didn’t include custom

3 Ways Geothermal Design Software Improves Your Sales Pitch

2017-11-17T09:44:00.000-06:00

Experienced geothermal contractors know the importance of building value with their prospective customers. While that value can be demonstrated in many ways, contractors should not overlook the importance of using geothermal design software to help them win the job. When you sell geothermal comfort systems, you need to show your prospects that they can make a seamless transition to the new

Geothermal Can Change The World

2017-10-06T10:59:00.000-05:00

By, Doug Carruthers Geothermal heating and cooling systems are sold to homeowners and building owners with a focus on how their system will improve their lives. The direct benefits and individual case is a critical part of making the sale but its not the only set of benefits you should present. Don't forget that many consumers interested in geothermal are often just as interested in the big

Geothermal Equals Peace of Mind

2017-10-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

By, Ryan Carda There are many benefits of ground source heat pump systems (GSHP). They are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. They provide comfort levels that are unmatched by conventional technologies. They are an in-home luxury that can be used for both spacing conditioning and domestic hot water generation. GSHPs also provide price stability and financial peace mind. Month to

Luxury Comfort Systems

2017-09-27T14:55:00.003-05:00

Compare your sales strategy to that of a car dealership. Other HVAC salesmen are shilling an old pickup with poor gas mileage. You're offering a luxury sports car that happens to get better mileage than anything else on the road. Geothermal is the most advanced AND energy-efficient HVAC system on the market - it has a higher price-tag for good reason (“The Masterpiece of HVAC Technology”). From

Low Hanging Fruit- Mainstreaming Geothermal with Simpler Pumping

2017-06-25T11:17:00.000-05:00

Connor Donovan from Melink GEO discusses how simplifying commercial pumping with pre-packaged pumping systems can improve individual projects and help to improve the adoption of geothermal throughout the HVAC market. Duration: 44 minutes About the Presenter Connor DonovanMelink CorporationConnor Donovan joined Melink in 2016 to help change the world, one building at a time by assisting

Water Quality in GSHP Applications

2017-06-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

By, Ryan Carda Water quality has a huge impact on GSHP service life and efficiency. Unfortunately, most systems are filled with whatever water is available on site with little or no attention to its suitability for use. In fact, water quality is the root of many issues, including the premature failure of mechanical components. It goes without saying that if you aren’t already paying attention

Flow Centers: Pressurized vs Non-Pressurized (Part 2)

2017-06-19T10:30:00.000-05:00

As described in the first part of this article, flow centers require a certain minimum level of inlet pressure in order for the pumps to function properly. The method of maintaining this pressure is what distinguishes a pressurized flow center from non-pressurized flow center. In some cases, the choice of which type of flow center to use is based on application constraints. But most of the time,

5 Ways to Extend Pump Life for GSHP Systems

2017-06-12T09:26:00.000-05:00

According to ASHRAE research, GSHP units have a service life expectancy of more than 24 years. At 10 years, the average service life of a wet rotor circulator pales in comparison. Geo-Flo recently conducted a review of the warranty claims they received due to pump failures. The data suggest that the majority of premature pump failures are due to preventable issues. Pump Failures at a Glance

Pros and Cons of Distributed Pumping

2017-06-05T08:42:00.000-05:00

By, Ryan Carda Exceptional pumping system design is a giant step toward a high-performing geothermal heat pump system. Pump power consumption can drastically impact the overall efficiency of the GSHP system which ultimately affects the amount of heat rejection that the ground loop has to accommodate (which affects size and first cost). There are many ways to approach pumping system layout and

Flow Centers: Pressurized vs Non-Pressurized (Part 1)

2017-05-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

In terms of residential flow centers, the geothermal heat pump industry is divided into two camps: pressurized and non-pressurized. A flow center is a device that produces system flow and facilitates the removal of air and debris (through built in flush/purge ports)1. The terms “pressurized” and “non-pressurized” indicate whether static pressure is held in the piping system, which is measured

Pros and Cons of Centralized Pumping

2017-05-22T08:47:00.000-05:00

By, Ryan Carda With a ground source heat pump system (as with anything else), the designer must strike the right balance between installation and operating costs. This is true of all aspects of design, but is especially true of the interior piping design as well as the pump layout and selection. Even with the best design, the efficiency gains from a GSHP system can be completely erased by poor

Geothermal Loops: 5 Reasons for using HDPE & PEXa

2017-05-16T08:31:00.000-05:00

By, Ryan Carda With so many available options, why has the geothermal heat pump industry gravitated toward exclusively using polyethylene (PE) - specifically HDPE and PEXa - for ground loop construction, especially considering it is one of the most insulative piping materials available? Aside from the fact that PE piping accounts for a tiny fraction of the overall thermal resistance in a

Soil Identification for Horizontal Geo Loops

2017-04-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

By, Ryan Carda Soil identification can serve as one of the largest obstacles to generating an accurate horizontal loop design. That’s because it plays a large part in determining how many trenches are needed and how long they need to be. While it may sound simple, soil identification isn’t an area that most people are formally trained in. Soil Properties To design a horizontally-trenched

Understanding Auto-Header

2017-03-07T10:27:00.000-06:00

In LoopLink™ PRO we spent a lot of time on header design. We spent so much time on it in fact, most users will never need to spend more than a few seconds on the page. But the speed with which the auto-header function does its job, belies the complexity and importance of what it is doing. This article describes generally how the LoopLink™ PRO auto-header system works so it feels

Top 4 Reasons Not to Use a Vault

2017-03-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

A geothermal valve vault serves as a central point where the manifold collects flow from the entire loopfield with a single pair of supply-return lines running back to the building. A well-designed vault has incorporated bypass and butterfly circuit isolation valves, which are used during system fill, flush & purge and pressure testing. These features are important and necessary, but you don't

Video: Burying Mistakes

2017-03-01T09:52:00.002-06:00

Duration: 31:45 Description Industry leader, Lisa Meline, P.E. shares a cautionary tale about what happens when geothermal designers trust but don’t verify. A failure analysis of a system points to a design that was sound in principle but not properly overseen during installation. The result was of course an expensive analysis and repair that could have been avoided. About the Presenter Lisa

Top 6 Reasons to Install a Geothermal Vault

2017-02-27T16:32:00.000-06:00

Although some may argue against the upfront cost, there are many advantages to the use of geothermal vaults in large commercial projects. It can save both the owner and installer time and money over the long haul. Here are the top six reasons for using a geothermal valve vault in a commercial loopfield according to Stuart Lyle, Director of Geothermal Sales at ISCO Industries. Photo courtesy of

LoopLink RLC Update: Pond Loop GHEX Design

2017-02-22T10:25:00.000-06:00

By, Ryan Carda Pond loops are closed-loop, surface-water heat exchangers. Regulation permitting, any nearby body of water, such as a lake, stream or pond, can serve as a lower cost heat source/sink for a geothermal heat pump system than conventionally bored or trenched systems. That is of course assuming the pond loop is properly designed and installed. With our latest update to LoopLink&trade

Top 5 Features of Bad Vault Design

2017-02-14T09:18:00.000-06:00

In Joe Pejsa's experience there are common elements in every bad vault design. Here are his top five things to avoid when specifying the requirements for a geothermal valve vault. 1 Circuit Balancing Valves The primary issue with circuit balancing valves is the fact that they only control flow under peak flow conditions. Typically, a loopfield only operates at peak capacity for a few hours in a

Top 5 Features of Good Vault Design

2017-02-14T09:11:00.000-06:00

As with everything in life, there is right way and a wrong way to design a geothermal valve vault. Here, Joe Pejsa shares his recommendations for the right way based on years of experience and hundreds of installations. 1 Use a Two-Manway System There are two primary advantages of using two manways in a vault design. Ventilation Per OSHA standards, proper ventilation must be provided to safely

What is a Geothermal Vault?

2017-02-07T08:30:00.000-06:00

By, Ryan Carda Simply put, a vault is a buried structure that houses an external manifold for a geothermal loopfield. Think of it as a buried mechanical room where your manifold will go. Simply climb down the ladder through the built-in manway to gain access. For large systems, it usually does not make sense to connect all of the ground loops with a single pair of supply-return lines without

LoopLink RLC Update: Economics of Replacing an Old GSHP

2017-02-02T10:32:00.004-06:00

By, Ryan Carda LoopLink RLC now allows for an economic analysis to be performed that compares a new GSHP to an old one that is ready for replacement. By doing so, we allow the system designer to illustrate the benefits of upgrading to a new GSHP unit from an economic point of view. Why The Update? Units that were installed in the 80's and 90's are most likely near the end of their 25-30 year