It is our hope that this site
will give you easy access to information about Ground source heat pumps,
geothermal heating and cooling systems and the role of Sound Geothermal
in providing such systems for residential and commercial applications.
The information linked to this site from the Geothermal Heat Pump
Consortium, Inc., the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
and the U.S. Department of Energy is gratefully acknowledged. The terms
"geothermal", "ground source" and "GeoExchange"
are used interchangeably with reference to heating and cooling systems
that use the earth as a heat source and heat sink.
What are Geothermal
Heat Pumps?
Ground source heating and cooling is a high-comfort, cost-effective, and
environmentally friendly technology that takes advantage of the Earth's
capacity to store energy in the form of heat. Geothermal heat pump
systems use no fuel, but rather move heat from the earth into a
building, or from a building back into the earth. We call this
GeoExchange! A small amount of electricity is used to operate the
pumps, fans, controls, and small refrigerator-like compressor, which
along with the heat exchangers are the major components of the ground
source heat pump.
The geothermal heat pump
accomplishes its heating and cooling tasks by obtaining heat through a
connection to the earth known as an earth loop or ground loop. The
ground loop consists of a piping system circulating a water/antifreeze
mixture from the earth to the geothermal heat pump and back. Because of
the compressor in the heat pump the ground temperature need not be
especially warm and these ground loop systems will perform efficiently
virtually everywhere in the U.S.
Since only a very small amount
of electricity is consumed by a geothermal heating and cooling system to
move the heat from the earth to the building (or vice-versa) and no fuel
is burned, it is possible to calculate a "pay out period" for
the purchase of the GeoExchangeSM system. Gas, propane, oil
and electric heating and cooling systems can never pay out because there
is a constant and significant fuel cost.
What Is Sound
Geothermal?
Sound Geothermal ("SOUND
GT") is a company made up of energy industry professionals
who have long, broad experience in every phase of the geothermal heating
and cooling business. Recognizing that properly designed and installed
ground source systems required a mix of capabilities that include
several areas far outside the general experience of most heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineers and contractors, SOUND
GT structured itself so that its principals, key employees and alliance
partners included a large commercial HVAC contractor, geologists, ground
loop design experts, drilling specialists, geothermal heat pump system
design and installation professionals, and energy service experts.
SOUND GT is dedicated to the
proper design, installation, application and support of geothermal
heating and cooling systems. The fundamental mission of SOUND GT is to
participate in the growing ground source heating and cooling business in
the western U.S. as a provider of properly designed and packaged
equipment, professional installation services, quality control/warranty
certification and financing for residential, commercial and process
applications.
The services of SOUND GT are
typically used by, or in conjunction with a mechanical engineer and/or a local HVAC contractor.
SOUND GT will provide all equipment and whichever installation services
are desired by the local contractor or building owner. While the
preferred approach is to establish and support a highly capable local
dealer, SOUND GT will provide complete installation and support services
directly in the absence of such a dealer.
SOUND GT prides itself on its
ability to provide financing advice and assistance. Alternatives
for financing geothermal heating and cooling systems include loop or
equipment leasing, regional energy service programs, conventional
financing, performance-based contracts, or access to electric utility
incentive programs.
Key services include:
|
Equipment
Distribution & Dealer/Contractor Support |
|
|
Project Planning
& Management |
|
|
Project Quality
Control |
|
|
Consulting &
Remedial Analysis |
|
|
Heat
Load Calculation & Analysis |
|
|
Ground Loop Design
& Installation |
|
|
Equipment Sizing
& Selection |
|
|
Mechanical
Engineering by Licensed PE’s – Residential/Commercial |
|
|
Installation &
Product Training |
|
|
Project Financing,
Equipment Leasing & Performance Contracts |
|
|
Ground Source HVAC
Installation & Service* |
* Where local SOUND GT
dealers are not available
SOUND GT operates Nationwide with focus on the Western US. SOUND GT is an active member of the
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), and an
associate member of the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc. (GHPC), and American Society of Heating
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
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