GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
GROUNDSOURCE HEAT PUMPS (GSHP)
Ground Source Heat pumps utilize the renewable heat that is stored below the earth’s surface and converts it into energy. GSHPs consist of a circuit of underground piping outside the facility and a heat pump unit inside. Water mixed with antifreeze circulates through the pipes picking up the natural heat of the earth which is extracted by the heat pump and converted into energy, which can be used to heat or cool a building and provide preheated water.
BENEFITS OF INSTALLATION
The system allows facilities to save money on their bills while reducing CO2 emissions and demonstrating leadership in green buildings and building services. A summary of CO2 savings follows:
Ground Source Heat Pumps = 463 tonnes of CO2 saved per year
CO2 Saved since Installation in sample project = 1929 tonnes of CO2
GSHP technology has seldom been implemented on buildings of this size anywhere in the province. Facilities, such as the ones mentioned below, have acted as very good models for future adoption of the technology and were installed at cost to prove that point. The operators chose GSHP over other less costly alternatives because they felt that by installing GSHP as part of their implementation of sustainable practices they could act as a role model with the hope that others might follow in their footsteps.
Broader benefits to owners of the facilities include lower and more predictable heating bills, since electricity prices do not suffer the same volatility as gas prices. The installation of the GSHP system saves the facility roughly 75% of the operational cost related to conventional approaches to heating and cooling service provision.
VERIFICATION
The energy bills for the system are available and standard energy models have been used to estimate the energy service needs – and GHG savings from not using the conventional alternatives. Validated by third party auditor (A.D. Williams Engineering Inc.) as being:
- Real (the installations took place and expected emissions reductions relative to baseline being achieved);
- Additional (technology, investment, timing, and common practice tests).
VARIOUS PROJECT LOCTIONS:
Sk’elep School of Excellence. Based in Kamloops, within the traditional territory of the Secwepemc people, the Sk'elep School was build to provide an outstanding facility for children in grades from kindergarten to grade 7. The school combines a balance high academic standards and education in Secwepecmc Culture. The building was designed to create a safe healthy and green physical environment for students. Offsets helped pay for the cost of installing a groundsource heatpump that provides a climate friendly energy solution for the building.
Piccadilly Terrace Retirement Residence. Based in Salmon Arm in the Shuswap provides excellent facilities for active and independent seniors wishing to enjoy a comfortable and secure lifestyle, living in one of 91 apartments close to the downtown core. Offsets helped pay for the cost of installing a groundsource heatpump that provides a climate friendly energy solution for the building. The system provides a clean, affordable and reliable source of heat to all the facilities.
Semiamhoo House Society & Foundation. The Semiamhoo House Society provides a facility for acquisition of life skills needed for semi-independent living. The support provided to individuals in this model is very individualized. Individuals live in their own homes but have support from a trained support team to help them in developing daily life skills such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting and socializing. The goal in this program is for the individuals to develop their skills further to allow them to live independently. The GSHP system was installed in their central skills acquisition and semi-supported living facility.
Deltaview Habilitation Centre. The Deltaview Campus of Care consists of Delta View Habilitation Centre, Delta View Life Enrichment Centres, and Crossroads Adult Daycare Centre. We are the culmination of more than 30 years of providing exceptional service to individuals whose mental and/or physical abilities have been compromised to the point that ongoing care outside the home is necessary. The installation of a Ground Source heat pump system to provide heating, air conditioning and domestic water preheating for the new 200,000 square foot facility was made because there was a fit with the philosophy of sustainability with which the facility is operated.