View Full Version : some talk about it, others do something
dragonsdaddy
07-25-2009, 03:42 PM
as i look out my backdoor, i see 3 men and their equipment trying to make a difference. over the next few days, my backyard is being turned into a geo-thermal heat pump. they are trenching and burying about 500 feet of 4 and 6 inch pvc pipe 6 ft deep(where the ambient temperature keeps within 2 degrees of the yearly average-69 degrees) thru which air from the return plenum will be blown, to be returned into the plenum at the furnace/ac fan. if it works as advertised(i hope we have thought of everything that can go wrong), i'll get "free", rebate subsidized ac and heat, 24-7. i will keep yall informed as to its progress and efficiency. if it works, look for one of our crews to be installing same in your yard soon.
as i look out my backdoor, i see 3 men and their equipment trying to make a difference. over the next few days, my backyard is being turned into a geo-thermal heat pump. they are trenching and burying about 500 feet of 4 and 6 inch pvc pipe 6 ft deep(where the ambient temperature keeps within 2 degrees of the yearly average-69 degrees) thru which air from the return plenum will be blown, to be returned into the plenum at the furnace/ac fan. if it works as advertised(i hope we have thought of everything that can go wrong), i'll get "free", rebate subsidized ac and heat, 24-7. i will keep yall informed as to its progress and efficiency. if it works, look for one of our crews to be installing same in your yard soon.
woa :eek: that's pretty crazy
cougmantx
07-25-2009, 03:55 PM
as i look out my backdoor, i see 3 men and their equipment trying to make a difference. over the next few days, my backyard is being turned into a geo-thermal heat pump. they are trenching and burying about 500 feet of 4 and 6 inch pvc pipe 6 ft deep(where the ambient temperature keeps within 2 degrees of the yearly average-69 degrees) thru which air from the return plenum will be blown, to be returned into the plenum at the furnace/ac fan. if it works as advertised(i hope we have thought of everything that can go wrong), i'll get "free", rebate subsidized ac and heat, 24-7. i will keep yall informed as to its progress and efficiency. if it works, look for one of our crews to be installing same in your yard soon.
I would really like to know how this works for you. I visited Greenville, KS last month. They are the town that got wiped out in 2007 from a tornado and they are building back green. All of the city building are certified platinum.
mad_fan
07-25-2009, 04:01 PM
You have 3 guys digging in your backyard on a hot Saturday???
What ethnic group do they belong to???
:rolleyes:
Seriously...sounds cool...keep use posted...
But I'll have to do some math...what is the grade of the PVC??? Schedule 20??? Is it perferated??? How many CFPM will flow into the plenum from the outside source??? What powers the airflow through the PVC??? How is it activated???
dragonsdaddy
07-25-2009, 04:22 PM
You have 3 guys digging in your backyard on a hot Saturday???
What ethnic group do they belong to???
:rolleyes:
Seriously...sounds cool...keep use posted...
But I'll have to do some math...what is the grade of the PVC??? Schedule 20??? Is it perferated??? How many CFPM will flow into the plenum from the outside source??? What powers the airflow through the PVC??? How is it activated???
when we give you a bid, we'll have most of these questions answered with actual, working data and recommendations. i'll post a link if you want to read about it soon.
JagFan
07-25-2009, 04:27 PM
when we give you a bid, we'll have most of these questions answered with actual, working data and recommendations. i'll post a link if you want to read about it soon.
Please do.
mad_fan
07-25-2009, 04:32 PM
when we give you a bid, we'll have most of these questions answered with actual, working data and recommendations. i'll post a link if you want to read about it soon.
I'm kind of a 'do-it-yourselfer'...I just want the specs...:D
dragonsdaddy
07-25-2009, 04:56 PM
You have 3 guys digging in your backyard on a hot Saturday???
What ethnic group do they belong to???
:rolleyes:
Seriously...sounds cool...keep use posted...
But I'll have to do some math...what is the grade of the PVC??? Schedule 20??? Is it perferated??? How many CFPM will flow into the plenum from the outside source??? What powers the airflow through the PVC??? How is it activated???
they are, or were white. now red is the predominant color for the younger 2. i offered sun screen.
http://arizonarenewableenergy.com/underground-cooling/index.htm
here's one.
SWMHebron
07-25-2009, 05:56 PM
as i look out my backdoor, i see 3 men and their equipment trying to make a difference. over the next few days, my backyard is being turned into a geo-thermal heat pump. they are trenching and burying about 500 feet of 4 and 6 inch pvc pipe 6 ft deep(where the ambient temperature keeps within 2 degrees of the yearly average-69 degrees) thru which air from the return plenum will be blown, to be returned into the plenum at the furnace/ac fan. if it works as advertised(i hope we have thought of everything that can go wrong), i'll get "free", rebate subsidized ac and heat, 24-7. i will keep yall informed as to its progress and efficiency. if it works, look for one of our crews to be installing same in your yard soon.
My husband looked into something like that when we built our house in the early '90s. It wasn't economically feasible at the time but in hind sight you have to wonder if it wouldn't have been of benefit.
dragonsdaddy
07-25-2009, 06:14 PM
My husband looked into something like that when we built our house in the early '90s. It wasn't economically feasible at the time but in hind sight you have to wonder if it wouldn't have been of benefit.
there is no maintainence, except occasionally closing it off to sterilize it. the fan will cost less than $5 a month to run full time. once the original investment is recouped, and that remains to be seen what the time frame is, it is free a/c. and i should be able to keep the house several degrees cooler, too.
Coolest thing ever... :notworthy
ktCarl
07-26-2009, 07:01 AM
when we give you a bid, we'll have most of these questions answered with actual, working data and recommendations. i'll post a link if you want to read about it soon.
So, you are going to do this as a side job? I wonder if it gives a house that 'cave cool' feeling?
You can PM about the cost.
AFBroGermany
07-26-2009, 09:26 AM
me and my father put up a large number of solar panels on his house over the summer and it cut his electric bill by 450 dollars a month. we left room for expansion so as he buys and instals more panels he will eventually be able to make money off it because the electric company has to buy back the electricity. Instalation was very easy except when we had to tie it into the power grid cause it has to get certified by the power company. Te only other hard part is remembering that as soon as you go outside the panels become live electric sources and you will get zapped unexpectedly if your not careful.
dragonsdaddy
07-26-2009, 10:01 AM
my next project is a 20 ft long greenhouse on the south wall which will have a "passive" solar water heater for the roof. it will recycle water thru the existing water heater. electric bills should be zero for heating water, anyway.
ktCarl
07-26-2009, 11:47 AM
me and my father put up a large number of solar panels on his house over the summer and it cut his electric bill by 450 dollars a month :eek:. we left room for expansion so as he buys and instals more panels he will eventually be able to make money off it because the electric company has to buy back the electricity. Instalation was very easy except when we had to tie it into the power grid cause it has to get certified by the power company. Te only other hard part is remembering that as soon as you go outside the panels become live electric sources and you will get zapped unexpectedly if your not careful.
Does your Dad live in a 10,000 sq ft castle?!?!?!?
dragonsdaddy
07-29-2009, 03:11 PM
well, we got it done. there were a few hitches caused by the 1.8 in of rain monday which caused a 300 gallon cistern to collapse one wall of the trench. took about 6 hrs of work to recoup that. otherwise, except for the muddy desolation that was my grassy backyard, it is finished(can't hook up til the glue quits outgassing. i ran the fan all night and was getting 76 degree air out (90 in yesterday). i expect a degree or 3 less after it settles in and any air is squeezed out.
so far the only thing i would change is the layout. since space is no object where i live, i would lay a long circuit with only 2 parallel trenches. were i to ever build a house i would put the array under the foundation where i wouldn't care about the surface destruction.
i'll keep you informed about the electricity savings as i become apprised.
drgnbkr
07-29-2009, 03:16 PM
well, we got it done. there were a few hitches caused by the 1.8 in of rain monday which caused a 300 gallon cistern to collapse one wall of the trench. took about 6 hrs of work to recoup that. otherwise, except for the muddy desolation that was my grassy backyard, it is finished(can't hook up til the glue quits outgassing. i ran the fan all night and was getting 76 degree air out (90 in yesterday). i expect a degree or 3 less after it settles in and any air is squeezed out.
so far the only thing i would change is the layout. since space is no object where i live, i would lay a long circuit with only 2 parallel trenches. were i to ever build a house i would put the array under the foundation where i wouldn't care about the surface destruction.
i'll keep you informed about the electricity savings as i become apprised.
We don't have radon gas around here do we?
This is real cool so to say. I am fascinated by these types of things. Our house os pretty efficient all told, but I would love to do solar or something like this down the road.
I believe Coram Deo, a small privates school in the area did something like this.
I would love to see some pictures of you have any.
Favpack
07-29-2009, 03:17 PM
well, we got it done. there were a few hitches caused by the 1.8 in of rain monday which caused a 300 gallon cistern to collapse one wall of the trench. took about 6 hrs of work to recoup that. otherwise, except for the muddy desolation that was my grassy backyard, it is finished(can't hook up til the glue quits outgassing. i ran the fan all night and was getting 76 degree air out (90 in yesterday). i expect a degree or 3 less after it settles in and any air is squeezed out.
so far the only thing i would change is the layout. since space is no object where i live, i would lay a long circuit with only 2 parallel trenches. were i to ever build a house i would put the array under the foundation where i wouldn't care about the surface destruction.
i'll keep you informed about the electricity savings as i become apprised.
Congrats! How are you gonna heat it?
Congrats! How are you gonna heat it?
same way.
Favpack
07-29-2009, 03:26 PM
same way.
You've got to have some system for the air to be warmed, right?
Firebird
07-29-2009, 04:01 PM
You've got to have some system for the air to be warmed, right?
Favpack-- My understanding is that this system will bring up air from underground that remains at an ambient 69 degrees year round. (Layers of soil and rock are excellent insulators. Go into a cave at any time of year and the temparature of the air will be constant). Thus, in the winter the 69 degree air flowing into the house will be warmer than the surrounding air and in summer cooler. A year round 69 degrees. So no need for a warming system.
Fridayniteguy
07-29-2009, 05:09 PM
Ground-coupled heat exchanger info (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground-coupled_heat_exchanger) by Wiki.
dragonsdaddy
07-29-2009, 06:48 PM
You've got to have some system for the air to be warmed, right?
i don't ever see my heater coming on again. we enjoy our wood burning stove too, and recycling 70 degree qair will heat all rooms now. i think in a new house, one could conceiveably pay for the array thru leaving out the furnace. i'll let you know.
You have 3 guys digging in your backyard on a hot Saturday???
What ethnic group do they belong to???
:rolleyes:
Seriously...sounds cool...keep use posted...
But I'll have to do some math...what is the grade of the PVC??? Schedule 20??? Is it perferated??? How many CFPM will flow into the plenum from the outside source??? What powers the airflow through the PVC??? How is it activated???
My guess would be schedule 40 or 80. Likely not perforated. The rest....IDK.:D
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