HOW TO GET STARTED

Steps Common to Both Architects and HVAC Engineers

Obtaining More Information

Teleconferences do not offer enough time to answer all questions regarding geothermal heating and cooling.  There are many sources for detailed information on geothermal heat pumps.

The Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc. (GHPC) is ready to provide a wide variety of information to help you get started in the geothermal heat pump business.

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), based at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.A., has state-of-the-art training and research facilities.

IGSHPA-certified installation workshops are held nationwide, and IGSHPA trains numerous instructors each year with its Train-The-Trainer program.  Seminars, demonstrations, and workshops are an integral part of the IGSHPA mission, along with conference exhibits, a Web site, and a bimonthly newsletter, The Source.  It develops and publishes technical manuals, promotional brochures, case studies, and fact sheets.

Often the most valuable information source are other architects and engineers with geothermal experience.  The case studies developed by the GHPC as well as those prepared by GHP manufacturers and utilities can lead you to the architects and engineers responsible for actual geothermal installations.  Contact them, ask questions-there is no better information source on how to get started in the geothermal business than your colleagues!  Members of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) Technical Committee 6.8 are often very helpful, too.

Contact the electric utility in your area or in areas where you anticipate potential geothermal projects.  They can tell you about geothermal heat pump projects in your area-visit one or two, talk to owners, occupants, and facility maintenance staff.   The utility will be happy to tell you about any incentive programs for geothermal systems - investigate specific rebate levels for future geothermal cost analyses.

Many utilities offer technical assistance to support potential geothermal heat pump projects such as co-funding of feasibility studies or geothermal design.   Utility staff are often available to meet clients interested in investigating potential geothermal projects.

Geothermal training seminars and workshops are often co-funded by utilities.  Finally, utilities with geothermal programs can provide you with a list of qualified professionals with geothermal experience.

Geothermal heat pump manufacturers are happy to provide are happy to provide a wealth of information on their specific GHP product lines.  GHP manufacturers generally offer technical assistance and many can provide certain design help, particularly on geothermal control schemes.

Affiliation with technical societies is a good way to learn about geothermal developments.  Architects can contact the American Institute of Architects (AIA).  For engineers, ASHRAE, the Air Conditioning Contractors' Association (ACCA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), and the National Water Well Association (NWWA) are good sources for professional and applied information on geothermal systems.

Training

Geothermal Heating and Cooling Regional Centers, GHPC, Washington, DC., U.S.A.

• Alabama Power Company Heat Pump Training Center, 2388 County Road 93, Verbena, Alabama, 36091, U.S.A., Contacts:

Joel Owen, Sr. Training Analyst, Phone: 800.634.0154, Fax: 205.755.6168, Email: joel.l.owen@apc.com,

Thomas Hobbs, Sr. Training Analyst, Phone: 800.634.0154, Fax: 205.755.6168, Email: thomas.m.hobbs@apc.com,

Nance Lovvorn, Training Manager, 600 North 18th Street, Birmingham, AL 35291, U.S.A., Phone: 205.257.4450, Fax: 205.257.1588, Email: nance.c.lovvorn@apc.com

Charles McCain, Trainer, 2225 Golf Course Road, Jasper, AL 35504, Phone: 205.221.5533, Email: cmccain001@aol.com             

• Alternative Energy Corporation, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A., Contact:

  Dave Ferguson, Phone: 919.857.9000, Fax: 919.832.2696.

• Midwest Geothermal Heat Pump Resource Center, 605 S. Warren Avenue, CTB 102B, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307, U.S.A., Contact:

  Dave McRae, Project Coordinator, Phone: 616.592.3051, Fax: 616.592.3052. Email: mcraed@cot.ferris.edu   

• Geothermal Energy Association, Davis, California, U.S.A., Contact:

  David Anderson, Phone: 916.758.2360, Fax: 916.758.2839.

• Keystone Geothermal Heat Pump Training Consortium, 445 Schoolhouse Road, Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904, U.S.A., Contact:

David Feyock, Phone: 888.434.4436, ext. 807, Fax: 814.269.4586, Email: newd@twd.net   

• South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, U.S.A., Contact:

  Dr. Charles Remund, Phone: 605.688.6395, Fax: 605.688.6406.

Software for GHP System Applications

Commercial Geothermal Heat Pumps

Ground Loop Heat Exchanger Program (GLHEPRO) for Commercial Applications, Design Software, IGSHPA Catalog #06200, Oklahoma State University, Electric Power Research Institute, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

GS2000, Version 1.0, Design Software, Caneta Research, Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, 1996. Phone: 905.542.2890, Fax: 905.542.3160.

GCHPCalc, Design Software, Energy Information Services, Box 861462, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35486-0013, U.S.A., Phone: 205.799.4591.

PC-Programs for Dimensioning of Heat Extraction Boreholes, Design Software, IGSHPA Catalog #06300, Per Eskilson and Johan Claesson, Lund University, Sweden.

Residential Geothermal Heat Pumps

GeoDesigner. Advanced Energy Analysis Software, Design software, ClimateMaster Inc., Phone: 405.745.6000, Fax: 405.745.6058.

CLGS-Ground Heat Exchanger Design Program, Design Software, Oklahoma State University. U.S.A.

GEOCALC, Design Software, Developed by Ferris State University, Released by Thermal Works Software, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A., Phone: 616.243.0212.

A useful range of geothermal heat pump software (e.g., RIGHT-J (load calc) and RIGHT-LOOP, RIGHT-$) is available from Wright Associates, 394 Lowell Street, Lexington, Massachusetts 02173, U.S.A., Phone: 800.225.8697, Fax: 617.861.2058.

GL/GW-Source, Design Software, Kansas Electric Utilities Research Program.

Earth Energy Designer, Design Software.

Building Energy Simulation Models

BLAST (Building Loads Analysis and System Thermodynamics), BLAST Support Office, University of Illinois, 1206 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61826, U.S.A., Phone: 800.UI-BLAST or 217.333.3977, Fax: 217.244.6534, email: support@blast.bso.uiuc.edu.

DOE-2.1E, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, Mail Stop 90-3147, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkley, CA 94720, U.S.A., Dr. Fred Winklemann, Phone: 510.486.5711, Fax: 510.486.4089, email: FCW@gundog.lbl.gov.

E20-2, Umbrella program containing HAP (Hourly Analysis Program), Carrier Corporation, Carrier Parkway, Syracuse, NY 13221, U.S.A., Larry Schaeffer, Phone: 315.432.6000.

ELITE, Trane Company, P.O. Box 7916, Waco, TX 76714, U.S.A., Shaun Blue, Phone: 817.840.5381.

PowerDOE, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, Mail Stop 90-3147, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkley, CA 94720, U.S.A.,Dr. Fred Winklemann, Phone: 510.486.5711, Fax: 510.486.4089, Email: FCW@gundog.lbl.gov.

TRNSYS (Transient System Simulation Program),TRNSYS Coordinator, Solar Energy Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Johnson Drive, Madison, WI 53706, U.S.A., Phone: 608.263.1589, Fax: 608.262.8464, Email: trnsys@ra.me.wisc.edu.

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