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In May 2009, WaterFurnace International awarded Achieve Geopro Master Dealer Status. WaterFurnace gives the Geopro status to dealers
that have the training, design and service capabilities, and sales volume necessary to set them apart. WaterFurnace says that its Geopro
Master Dealers 'have proven time and again that they truly care about customers like you.' To learn more about our Geopro status,
click here.
Achieve's staff are members of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
(IGSHPA) and are IGSHPA accredited installers. Achieve employs WaterFurnace Factory
Trained Fusion Technicians and Factory Trained Service Technicians.
Achieve is an authorized dealer for WaterFurnace Renewable Energy, Inc. In 2008,
WaterFurnace celebrated its 25th anniversary of providing quality geothermal heating
and cooling products.
Services that Achieve provides:
- Free telephone and/or home consultation
- Design and installation
- Service and maintenance packages
Geothermal Major Components:
- Heat Exchanger (Earth Loop) – An underground system of pipe containing environmentally friendly antifreeze
that extracts or releases heat to the ground.
- Geothermal Heat pump – A device that moves heat from the air to the Earth Loop during
the summer and moves heat from the Earth Loop to the air during the winter.
- Heat or air conditioning distribution system – Generally, heat is distributed through
ducts or radiant tubing. Cool air is distributed through ducts.
- Hot Water Assist – Mechanism whereby waste heat generated by the heat pump can produce 40 to 60% of
domestic hot water as a byproduct.
Geothermal Configurations
Property or lot size usually dictates the geothermal system configuration (vertical
or horizontal) that will be installed.
- Closed Loop —
Circulates an anti-freeze solution through a system of high density polyethylene pipes.
There are three types of closed loops:
- Vertical – Pipes are placed in one or more borings installed with a drill rig to
depths usually between 100 and 400 feet. Lots less than 1 acre in size are usually
limited to vertical, closed loop installations.
- Horizontal – Pipes are placed into one or more trenches that are usually between
100 and 400 feet long. Horizontal closed loop installations are usually limited
to lots greater than 1 acre in size with large contiguous tracts of land that can
be easily accessed with a backhoe.
- Pond Loop – Coiled pipe is placed along the bottom of the water body such that water
flows around the pipe. Pond loops are usually limited to ponds or lakes that are
privately owned and may be prohibited depending on local environmental regulations.
- Open Loop –
Circulates well water or other source of water through polyethylene pipes returning
the water back to the source or another specified location.
- Standing Column Well (SCW)–The groundwater itself acts as a heat source or heat
sink. SCW installations require a water well that is dedicated to geothermal use.
The water wells cannot be used for potable water.
Geothermal System Sizing
In northern climates, geothermal systems are sized based on heating requirements. Design in southern climates is based on cooling needs. In general, equipment sizing is based on:
- Size of the building
- Building insulation and quality of construction
- Quality and quantity of windows
- Internal heat gains (appliances, machinery etc.)
Efficiency Ratings
Air Conditioning: EER vs. SEER
EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio. EER is the cooling output divided by the
total electric energy used by an air conditioner when the outdoor temperature is 95ºF.
SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER is the cooling output divided by the
total electric energy used by an air conditioner when the outdoor temperature is 82ºF.
Both SEER and EER are included in the ENERGY STAR specification because each rating
indicates the energy efficiency of the product under different operating modes.
SEER rating more accurately reflects overall system efficiency on a seasonal basis and
EER reflects the system’s energy efficiency at peak day operations.
Heating: COP
COP is the Coefficient of Performance. This is a measure of the efficiency of a heating system. COP is the ratio of the amount of heat produced compared to the energy used. For example, an electric water heater has a COP of 1. This means it is 100% efficient – all the energy used heats water. A typical fossil fuel furnace will have an efficiency of 0.8 to 0.9 (80 to 90%). A geothermal system produces 3 to 5 times as much heat as the energy applied – 300% to 500% efficiency.
Geothermal and the Environment
- Your heating/cooling carbon footprint for heating and cooling can be reduced by 20 to 40% by converting to geothermal from an oil
or gas based system. Although oil or gas use is eliminated, CO2 is created in generating electricity elsewhere. When combined with
renewable electricity sources like wind or solar, your carbon footprint can be further reduced
- Noise pollution is eliminated because there is no outdoor condenser
- Heat is discharged to the earth rather than to the air which decreases your contribution to the urban heat island effect
- The underground components of the system contain no vinyl or chemical adhesives. The piping is made of high density polyethylene and all connections are made using heat fusion
- WaterFurnace units are CFC free and utilize ozone-safe R410A refrigerant that meets the most stringent EPA requirements
- Most WaterFurnace units are performance-certified to ARI ISO 13256-1 standards and are ETL safety listed, and are ENERGYSTAR® qualified. All WaterFurnace products meet or exceed ASHRAE 90.1 efficiency guidelines
- Geothermal installations can contribute to the points required for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System certification. Up to 17 points may count towards LEED certification
Benefits of Ownership
- Lower operating costs - WaterFurnace estimates that annual heating and cooling costs can be decreased by up to 70%
- Enhanced comfort – Dual capacity compressors and EPC blowers eliminate blasts of hot or cold air and deliver a more even supply of warm or cool air
- Quiet operation – There is no outdoor condenser and the air handlers are quieter than most forced hot air furnaces
- Reliable operation – Most WaterFurnace units have a ten year warranty and an estimated twenty-four year service life
- Smaller carbon footprint – Gas and oil use is eliminated
- Improved air quality – humidity control, HEPA filters, heat recovery ventilators and air cleaners are available
- No fossil fuels – Fossil fuel use is eliminated. There are no odors, vapors or dangerous gases
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