Loop Fields - Closed loop geothermal systems
It is extremely important to understand that a closed loop heat exchanger must be designed to closely match the heating, cooling and hot water needs of a residence or business and it’s occupants. Without that specific data nothing is true, it’s only a guess. closed loop geothermal systems sometimes a good guess but more often than not, it’s only a guess. Rules of thumb have been adopted by many in different industries and trades but this task must be left to those who have a proven track record and performance history.
- 30% of total system cost in 2022 through 2032
- 26% of total system cost in 2033
- 22% of total system cost in 2034
- No limit to credit amount
- Can be used to offset alternative minimum tax (AMT)
- Can be used in more than one year
- Can be combined with solar and wind tax credits
- Can be combined with energy efficiency upgrade credits
What’s Eligible: Geothermal equipment that uses the stored solar energy from the ground for heating and cooling and that meets ENERGY STAR requirements at the time of installation is eligible for the tax credit. Covered expenditures include labor for onsite preparation, assembly, or original system installation and for piping or wiring to connect a system to the home. The structure must be located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, although primary residency isn’t required. In fact, if geothermal is installed in more than one home, there’s no limitation on the number of times the credit can be claimed.
What’s Not: The credit can’t be claimed for spending on equipment used solely for hot tub or pool conditioning, nor on previously used equipment. Rental home installations also cannot be claimed. As of November 2013, electric strip heat and ductwork distribution systems are no longer included in the tax credit calculation.
How to Claim the Credit: Use IRS Form 5695 to claim the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit, and there’s no limit on the credit amount. The tax credit can be used to offset both regular income taxes and alternative minimum taxes (AMT). If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward into future years. Spending on geothermal heat pump property adds to your home’s cost basis but also must be reduced by the amount of the tax credit received.
Learn more about offers and rebates.
Closed Loop Geothermal for your use
Some Rules To Live By
Never interview a well driller, driller or so-called geothermal earth loop installer first. If they start to tell you that your home or business needs a certain earth loop length and that they have done similar homes and jobs before, then politely show them the door. If you are told something like “this is a four-ton job, so that will be 4 times 150 feet per ton”, the same thing…. the door. While their services are important to the operation of a geothermal heat pump, unless they have actually engineered and installed an earth loop, connected it to equipment and guaranteed its performance and comfort they are not the starting point by any means to designing a heating, cooling, and hot water system. If you take their advice first you are most definitely putting the “cart before the horse”.There are lots of applications for geothermal systems and earth loop personnel are not usually qualified to tell any inquiring party that their building is not applicable to a geothermal or any other heating, cooling, and hot water system. At a minimum, they should be qualified to identify if the geology of the property is suitable.FACT…most heating and cooling systems are oversized. Equipment is most often installed using minimal if any, engineering data. The equipment cannot operate as it was designed by research and design engineers because it is installed in an unengineered environment. Consumers suffer from discomfort, premature equipment failure and high utility costs as a net result. Does it not make sense to fix this problem with your next investment? Why install a new HVAC system based on the improper credentials of the existing HVAC system? Find a contractor with a thorough proven track record.If a “certified” geothermal person tells you they are certified, ask them what their definition of certified. Who certified them and when? If they have successfully passed an International Ground Source Heat Pump accredited installer exam then that’s a start. After that, ask how many successful geothermal systems have they installed. Then ask how many unsuccessful installations they have installed too and what they did to correct their problem.A new geothermal system or any new heating/cooling “box” for that matter will not fix an installed air distribution system that is improperly designed if it is designed at all. If you have uncomfortable areas they will remain uncomfortable. Just like an auto mechanic can install a new engine, but the transmission has a problem too and the mechanic did not address that problem too.Horizontal Loops
Horizontal loops are often considered when adequate land surface is available. Pipes are placed in trenches using different configurations calculated specifically from data collected during an energy analysis calculation.
Vertical Loops
Vertical loops are the ideal choice when available land surface is limited. Drilling equipment is used to bore small-diameter holes from 75 to 300 feet deep.
Pond (lake)
Pond (lake) loops are very economical to install when a body of water is available, because excavation costs are virtually eliminated. Coils of pipe are simply placed on the bottom of the pond or lake.
Open Loop
Open loop systems utilize groundwater as a direct energy source. In ideal conditions, an open loop application can be the most economical type of geothermal system.
Closed Loop
Closed loop geothermal systems circulate a water-based solution through a “loop” of small diameter, underground pipes. In cold weather, this solution absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the geothermal unit. The geothermal system amplifies the heat and delivers it indoors. In warm weather the process is reversed, excess heat is carried from indoors and into the earth. You keep refreshingly cool during the hottest summer.
Boiler / Tower Systems
Boiler/Tower Systems For efficiency upgrades where large geothermal systems are not viable, existing boiler/tower jobs are frequently retrofitted. Hybrid systems incorporate both geothermal loops coupled with down-sized conventional heat rejection or addition equipment (boiler or tower).
- Design of a Closed Loop Geothermal Heat Exchanger
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Some Rules To Live By
Never interview a well driller, driller or so-called geothermal earth loop installer first. If they start to tell you that your home or business needs a certain earth loop length and that they have done similar homes and jobs before, then politely show them the door. If you are told something like “this is a four-ton job, so that will be 4 times 150 feet per ton”, the same thing…. the door. While their services are important to the operation of a geothermal heat pump, unless they have actually engineered and installed an earth loop, connected it to equipment and guaranteed its performance and comfort they are not the starting point by any means to designing a heating, cooling, and hot water system. If you take their advice first you are most definitely putting the “cart before the horse”.There are lots of applications for geothermal systems and earth loop personnel are not usually qualified to tell any inquiring party that their building is not applicable to a geothermal or any other heating, cooling, and hot water system. At a minimum, they should be qualified to identify if the geology of the property is suitable.FACT…most heating and cooling systems are oversized. Equipment is most often installed using minimal if any, engineering data. The equipment cannot operate as it was designed by research and design engineers because it is installed in an unengineered environment. Consumers suffer from discomfort, premature equipment failure and high utility costs as a net result. Does it not make sense to fix this problem with your next investment? Why install a new HVAC system based on the improper credentials of the existing HVAC system? Find a contractor with a thorough proven track record.If a “certified” geothermal person tells you they are certified, ask them what their definition of certified. Who certified them and when? If they have successfully passed an International Ground Source Heat Pump accredited installer exam then that’s a start. After that, ask how many successful geothermal systems have they installed. Then ask how many unsuccessful installations they have installed too and what they did to correct their problem.A new geothermal system or any new heating/cooling “box” for that matter will not fix an installed air distribution system that is improperly designed if it is designed at all. If you have uncomfortable areas they will remain uncomfortable. Just like an auto mechanic can install a new engine, but the transmission has a problem too and the mechanic did not address that problem too. - Loop Fields
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Horizontal Loops
Horizontal loops are often considered when adequate land surface is available. Pipes are placed in trenches using different configurations calculated specifically from data collected during an energy analysis calculation.
Vertical Loops
Vertical loops are the ideal choice when available land surface is limited. Drilling equipment is used to bore small-diameter holes from 75 to 300 feet deep.
Pond (lake)
Pond (lake) loops are very economical to install when a body of water is available, because excavation costs are virtually eliminated. Coils of pipe are simply placed on the bottom of the pond or lake.
- Open & Closed Loop Fields
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Open Loop
Open loop systems utilize groundwater as a direct energy source. In ideal conditions, an open loop application can be the most economical type of geothermal system.
Closed Loop
Closed loop geothermal systems circulate a water-based solution through a “loop” of small diameter, underground pipes. In cold weather, this solution absorbs heat from the earth and carries it to the geothermal unit. The geothermal system amplifies the heat and delivers it indoors. In warm weather the process is reversed, excess heat is carried from indoors and into the earth. You keep refreshingly cool during the hottest summer.
Boiler / Tower Systems
Boiler/Tower Systems For efficiency upgrades where large geothermal systems are not viable, existing boiler/tower jobs are frequently retrofitted. Hybrid systems incorporate both geothermal loops coupled with down-sized conventional heat rejection or addition equipment (boiler or tower).
