East Coast Geothermal

Monday, April 25, 2011

In 2008 when Philip Wheeler, an environmental engineer and consultant, wanted to start a geothermal installation business, he felt that a good place to set up his first system would be in his own Shrewsbury home. "Since then it's been great," he said. With the economy improving and oil prices continually rising, business at Wheeler's East Coast Geothermal in Clinton is heating up. He's averaging between 15 and 30 appointments a week, with an equal number in the pipeline. In addition to favorable market conditions, business is also being fueled by government subsidies, including a 30-percent tax credit for homeowners who install a geothermal system. There's an equivalent 10-percent break for businesses.

Still, there are barriers for the geothermal industry, admits Kevin Maher, president of the New England Geothermal Professional Association, a regional trade group for geothermal installers and those involved in the industry. Simply put, geothermal installations — which use the constant temperature of the earth below ground to more efficiently heat and cool a building — are not as well known compared to other energy efficiency improvement methods. "Geothermal is the red-headed stepchild of renewable energies," Maher said. But people like Maher and Wheeler are trying to change that.

Bubbling Up In part, some of the hesitation in the market regarding geothermal could be due to its high upfront costs.

While Wheeler said he can save an average customer 30 to 70 percent off their heating and cooling bills, the payback for a consumer varies widely depending on a number of factors, including how large the building is, what kind of heat pump is required and how easy it is to dig beneath the ground. Geothermal systems also require fairly significant construction, which include pipes that are either laid out horizontally underground, or are drilled vertically into the ground, sometimes as deep as 2,000 feet. The technology is based on the premise that about eight feet below ground, the earth's temperature remains fairly constant, around 50 degrees in both the winter and summer. Geothermal systems circulate a liquid antifreeze solution beneath the ground, heating or cooling the liquid to that 50-degree temperature.

Then, when it returns to the surface, a heat pump — similar to the ones used in a refrigerator — uses the heat energy from below ground to provide hot or cold air throughout the building. Unlike conventional boilers or natural gas heaters, the systems use no fossil fuels. One factor that could be inhibiting the technology's adoption in New England is the high cost of drilling compared to other parts of the country. Generally there is thick rock beneath the ground in many parts of Massachusetts and New England compared to parts of the South and Midwest.

Still, many organizations and residents across the area are embracing the technology, including Nichols College in Dudley. When the school refurbished one of its residence halls and built a new one, Bob Lavigne, the school's vice president for facilities management, wanted to try out a geothermal heating and cooling system. The single system provides heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer to both three-story, 35,000-square-foot buildings using three, 1,500-foot deep wells.

"All colleges, including us, are always looking at ways to go green and reduce our carbon footprint," he said.

Lavigne is monitoring the geothermal technology compared to the costs of heating and cooling the school's other buildings and is considering using it further across campus. But not everyone is bullish on the geothermal technology, including Bruce Harley, technical director in the applied building sciences division of Westborough-based Conservation Services Group. Compared to fossil-fuel burning heaters, geothermal is generally more efficient, he said. But, just how much more efficient depends on the type of heat pump.

The single best way for a home or business owner to reduce heating and cooling costs is to make their building more efficient, he said. While geothermal can help to reduce the cost of heating or cooling a building, actually reducing the amount of heat you need in the winter months can be a cheaper way to achieve similar savings, he said.

Friday, January 21, 2010

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East Coast Geothermal Until Recently, getting a geothermal heating and cooling system meant tracking down an engineer, a site planner, and a well driller -- and then trying to get all of them to speak the same language. Frustrated by the lack of turnkey solutions for installing a geothermal system in his own home, Philip Wheeler joined forces with two engineering colleagues to form ECG. The two-year-old Clinton company handles the entire process, from consulting and drawing up systems to installing and maintaining equipment. As a bonus, ECG helps customers and their accountants navigate the piles of paperwork needed to get federal and state tax credits for energy-saving home improvements 464 High St., Clinton, 978-368-4091, eastcoastgeothermal.com

Thursday, March 26, 2009

By Philip Wheeler, P.E., Principal, East Coast Geothermal

As electricity and energy costs continue to rise, there is a practical and cost-effective solution to this issue available to commercial and industrial property owners today. It is geothermal technology. Although geothermal technology has existed for over 30 years, only recently has it gained in popularity due to higher energy costs coupled with public concern for the environment. This reliable, readily available technology can save property owners significant operating costs over time and lessen our dependence on fossil fuels.

What is Geothermal
A geothermal system takes advantage of the of the earth's ability to store vast amounts of solar energy. The temperature at a depth of six to eight feet below the ground remains relatively constant at about 48 to 51 degrees in New England. Geothermal systems, also called ground source heat pumps, use the energy stored in the earth, groundwater or surface water as sources of heat in the winter and as a sink for heat removed from the building in the summer. The US EPA concludes that geothermal is the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available.

What is a heat pump
The heat pump is the heart of any geothermal heating and cooling system. Heat pumps have been utilized since the early 1900s with the most common uses being refrigerators and air conditioners. The heat pump is a mechanical device that transfers heat from one source to another. It can provide both heating and cooling and because heat pumps transfer heat rather than create heat through combustion, they are up to four times more efficient than fossil-fueled furnaces. Ground source heat pumps use 25 to 70% less electricity than conventional electric heating and cooling systems. They have a life expectancy of about 20 to 25 years because of the proven reliability of the heat pump and the because unit is located indoors where it is not subjected to the harsh New England climate.

Types of Geothermal systems
There are two types of geothermal systems, closed- and open-loop. In a closed-loop system, heat from the ground is collected by a continuous loop of underground piping that contains an environmentally friendly antifreeze solution that absorbs heat from the surrounding earth. The antifreeze solution is then drawn into the heat pump, where the heat is extracted in the winter to heat the building. Conversely, heat from within the building is rejected by the heat pump back to the earth in the summer. Closed-loop systems can either be installed horizontally or vertically. In locations with limited space, a vertical loop is preferred. U-shaped loops of high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping are inserted into boreholes, the borehole is grouted with special thermal grout, and each loop is connected and brought into the building and connected to the heat pump. Vertical loops are generally more expensive to install. In horizontal loopfields, the HDPE piping is coiled into "slinkys" and placed in either trenches or a bed excavated six to eight feet below the ground. Similar to a vertical installation, each slinky is connected to a header and brought into the building. In both installations, the HDPE piping is fused, rather than glued or clamped, ensuring a leak-free installation that should last 50 years. Closed-loop systems can be placed beneath parking lots, landscaped areas or recreation areas. In an open-loop system, the heat pump uses the heat present in water either from a well or surface water body as the heat source. The water is pumped to a heat exchanger in the heat pump, where heat is extracted. After the heat is extracted, the water is discharged back into the well or water body. The only result is a slight change in the water temperature. Poor water quality can be a source of problems in open-loop systems, so the water quality should be checked before installation and periodically after installation.

Current tax incentives The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, which became law on October 3, 2008, contains long-term tax incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy technologies in businesses, and homeowners too. The bill includes geothermal systems in these incentives. The bill also extends existing tax incentives for commercial buildings that support the installation of highly-efficient heating, cooling, and water heating systems, such as ground source heat pumps. The Act provides a new 10% investment federal tax credit for commercial geothermal systems. In addition, several New England states offer tax incentives.

Is Geothermal right for you?
Geothermal systems are a highly reliable source of renewable energy. The fuel supply is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The decision to install a geothermal system on your property requires the answers to many questions, and your knowledge and input to the process is vitally important. Geothermal systems are appropriate for new construction as well as retrofits of older buildings. Their flexible design requirements make them a good choice for almost any commercial or industrial property. Lower operating and maintenance costs, durability, and energy conservation make ground source heat pumps the smart choice for commercial applications.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

By Jennifer Lucarelli CORRESPONDENT

SHREWSBURY - In an attempt to reduce his heating bill, Phil Wheeler not only turned to an alternative heating source, but also started his own company: a one-stop shopping source for people interested in a geothermal heating and/or cooling system.

Mr. Wheeler, who began looking into geothermal heating about a year and a half ago, could not find one company that could design, build and install such a system.

"I was looking for one company to do it all, and it didn't exist," he said. "That's when I decided to create my own business."

As a civil engineer and an environmental consultant, he knew he could pull it all together with the help of two colleagues, Rich Cushing, an engineer, and Joe Jammallo, a geologist, who he already ran a business with. As a result, they began East Coast Geothermal of Clinton.

One of the first systems they installed was in Mr. Wheeler's home on North Street in Shrewsbury. "We drilled down just below the frost line, which is about 6 to 7 feet down, where the Earth's temperature stays at 50 to 52 degrees constantly," he said. "And that's where we piped out the stored solar energy."

Mr. Wheeler said he had been using about 1,300 to 1,500 gallons of oil a year to heat his home, and by drilling down to the geothermal heat in the Earth, he is saving all of that cost.

"This is the most efficient heating and cooling system, according to the EPA," he said. "The system will pay back within five to 10 years, and we are no longer leaving a carbon footprint."

Mr. Wheeler said natural gas is 95 percent efficient and oil is about 90 percent efficient. "Geothermal heating is 300 to 400 percent efficient," he said. "For every one unit of energy, we are getting back two to three units of energy, and we are using no fossil fuels."

While a traditional heating system costs about $12,000 to $14,000, the cost to design, build and install a new geothermal system can run from $20,000 to $40,000.

"The only cost after the startup cost is the electricity to power the system, which is minimal compared to the high oil heating bills I have had," Mr. Wheeler said. "This is a real opportunity for anyone who is interested in reducing greenhouse emissions."

Mr. Wheeler is targeting new construction for homes and businesses because it is easier and less expensive to install a system during construction.

"We can use the same heating system with some alterations in some cases, but each home is unique," he said. "That's why we wanted to make a turnkey business that creates a system for each individual from start to finish."

Leah Basbanes of Dunstable recently had Mr. Wheeler install a geothermal heating system in her home.

"I love it," she said. "It's great; it was the most bang for the buck, and I love that we don't leave a carbon footprint when it comes to heating and cooling our home."

She said she may have paid more upfront, "but it'll be paid off in six years, and I won't have to buy any more oil to heat my home," she said.

"I just wish that the state and towns would offer more tax rebates for installing a system like this."

For more information about geothermal heating and cooling, visit www.eastcoastgeothermal.com