Consider a Geothermal Heat Pump When Constructing Your Commercial Building

In a commercial setting, heating and cooling will account for a significant portion of the company’s monthly operating budget. A geothermal heat pump for commercial buildings will produce excellent heating and cooling at a much lower and more energy-efficient rate than standard furnaces, boilers, air conditioners or heat pumps. The following information presents a brief introduction to geothermal function and benefits.

How Geothermal Systems Work

Geothermal heat pumps, sometimes called ground source heat pumps, exploit the thermal energy that’s been absorbed and retained by the ground or a body of water. They use a highly efficient heat pump for heat transfer and release. The heat pump can pull heat out of the structure’s indoor air to provide cooling, or it can absorb heat from refrigerant and bring it inside. This process it what gives a geothermal heat pump for commercial buildings it’s high efficiency and performance.

The other important component is a series of pipes, called the loop, that’s buried about six to 10 feet below the surface of the earth where the temperature stays about the same all year long. In a water-source set-up, the loop is submerged in a pond, lake or other body of water at a depth where the water maintains a consistent year-round temperature. The refrigerant circulates through the loop pipes, either absorbing heat from the soil or water around them or releasing heat that was absorbed by the refrigerant indoors.

Benefits of Geothermal Systems

When you consider the possibility of a geothermal heat pump for commercial buildings, carefully evaluate the following benefits:

• Lower cost of operation: Geothermal heat pump systems are extremely efficient, which means they deliver exceptional heating and cooling at the lowest possible cost. They require electricity to work, but they’re so efficient, they can deliver four or more units of heating for each unit of electricity consumed. This amounts to an efficiency of 400 percent or more. For a commercial facility, geothermal systems can provide considerable savings on monthly expenses.
• Options to fit available space: Many geothermal loop systems are installed horizontally, requiring a substantial amount of open landscape. However, if your new construction project has limited space, a geothermal loop can be installed vertically via several holes drilled a few hundred feet into the ground. You can enjoy the benefits of a geothermal system no matter how close your neighbors are.
• Environmental friendliness: Geothermal systems are very friendly to the environment. Since they don’t burn any fossil fuels to produce heating, they don’t generate greenhouse gases or potentially harmful by-products such as carbon monoxide. Their energy needs are minimal, reducing overall demand on the local energy grid. If the system uses water as the refrigerant, there’s no danger of environmental contamination, even if the loop pipes leak.
• Minimal maintenance: Geothermal equipment is sturdy and long-lasting. You can typically expect 15 years of service or more out of the heat pump component. Loop pipes are often guaranteed for up to 50 years. Once a geothermal system is in place, it requires very little maintenance to keep it working properly.
• Free hot water: The geothermal process can also provide free hot water for a commercial space. Since water heating is also another high-cost operating factor, geothermal systems can provide yet another way to reduce your building’s monthly expenses. If your business relies on large amounts of hot water, the savings will be even more impressive.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about Plumbing, HVACR, Fire Protection, and Alarm Systems in Mechanical, Commercial and Residential settings. For more information on the benefits and uses of a geothermal heat pump for commercial buildings and to view projects we’ve worked on, visit our website!