Commercial Architecture December 2017 - 24

geothermal

PROJECT

Geothermal Changing The HVAC Landscape
As interest in geothermal technology grows, educational efforts are helping
architects confidently specify these environmentally friendly systems.
Jay Egg, Egg Geothermal

ost would agree that green/sustainable
building design and construction has become the norm, whether it's a new or a ren-

ovation project. That does not mean that the quest has
ended for improved energy efficiency, better indoor air
quality and, most important, reduced environmental impact. Ground-source heat pump geothermal technology
is at the forefront of this unending effort because it can
deliver efficient heating and cooling with minimal environmental impact and be effective virtually anywhere
in the country. The market for these systems is expected to grow about 12% annually through 2021 and the
technology continues to receive governmental and utility
support.
The geothermal HVAC industry enjoyed a period of
federal tax-credit support between 2009 and the end of
2016. The tax credits were not renewed at the beginning
of 2017, but the new Brady Bill, currently in the U.S.
House of Representatives, includes language that rekindles a 30% federal tax credit for geothermal HVAC sys-

Above. The St. Patrick's Cathedral project, in downtown Manhattan, is an example of how geothermal systems can be installed essentially anywhere
as permanent infrastructure and have low overall impact on the site. Image: PW Grosser
Right. In a ground-source geothermal system, all of the
chiller/heat-pump equipment is located inside, which adds to
overall system reliability and longevity.

tems, retroactive to January 2017. While this is not yet
law, it has a reasonably good chance of making it into the
OVERALL GROWTH

federal budget.
At the local level, many states and communities have

The greatest growth in the geothermal industry

instituted their own geothermal codes, rebates, or other

has been realized in larger governmental and

types of financial incentives. The website for the Data-

private-sector installations for commercial and

base of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

mixed-use communities. On the West Coast,

(DSIRE, dsireusa.org) is the best tool for determining

Internet giant Google will install a geothermal

what credits are available.

system to service the three office buildings that

New York state is a good example of forward thinking

make up their Bay View Campus facilities in San

that is making a difference in geothermal implementa-

Francisco. The heat pumps are expected to provide 95%

NY. The loop field will be installed in a common recre-

tion. The New York State Energy Research and Develop-

of the needed cooling. Cooling towers will provide the

ation area and connected to 10 homes. Initial expectation

ment Authority (NYSERDA, nyserda.ny.gov), Albany,

remaining 5%, primarily on the hottest days. In that area

is that homeowners in those experimental residences will

working with other governmental agencies, has estab-

of the country, the savings isn't natural gas; it's precious

experience a 25% reduction in HVAC costs.

lished a robust geothermal incentive program that in-

potable water-8 million gal. saved in a year is significant.

In Ontario, Canada, Enbridge Gas, Toronto, is install-

cludes significant quality assurance and control guide-

There is also notable growth in the multiple-residence

ing geothermal systems for several homes. The common

lines. The program is based on regulations and training

market, specifically using a system to serve several sin-

thread in this effort is that they are installing geothermal

established by the International Ground Source Heat

gle-family homes. In New York, National Grid USA Ser-

loops in places where the company would normally in-

Pump Association (IGSHPA, igshpa.org), Stillwater, OK.

vice Co. Inc., Waltham, MA, the nation's largest private-

stall natural gas lines.

This provides a level of quality control that was not at-

ly owned utility, has installed a multiple-home geothermal

There have also been some remarkable smaller com-

tainable by reliance on federal tax credits.

demonstration project at Glenwood Village, Riverhead,

panies popping up. One of those is Dandelion Energy,

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

DECEMBER 2017

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

http://www.dsireusa.org http://nyserda.ny.gov http://www.igshpa.org http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture December 2017