Page 11 - Advanced Technology for Energy and Water Saving

ENERGY USAGE

Natural Cycle. Geothermal pool
heating can also supply much of a
building’s demand.

Earth-Based Pool Heating

BY JAY EGG attained with a geothermal-sourced water-to-water heat
pumps, pulling heat from a dependable, steady and renewable
ITH JUST A LITTLE TWIST TO a home’s geothermal energy source; the Earth. Geothermal heat pumps can be
heating and cooling system, the waste heat about 5.0 COP (500 percent efficient).
from appliances and devices can be channeled Outside, temperatures fluctuate with the changing seasons,
W into usable heat for domestic hot water needs, but underground temperatures don’t change nearly as
swimming pools and spas. dramatically, thanks to the Earth’s mass. Just four to six feet
Like geothermal-sourced cooling and heating systems, below ground, the temperature remains relatively constant
geothermal pool heat pumps bring your swimming pool and year round (about 45 °F to 75 °F in the U.S.). A geothermal-
potable water heating in harmony with nature, while providing sourced water-to-water heat pump, which can work in tandem
high energy efficiency. They do that by working together with with your geothermal HVAC system, typically consists of a
the stable earth temperatures to provide heating for your pool water-sourced heat pump and a buried system of pipes called
throughout your desired swimming season. an earth loop, and/or a pump to reinjection (Class-V thermal
Air-source heat pumps designed for pool and potable exchange process illustrated here) well. This geothermal
water heating are environmentally friendly and use outside source can be shared between the building’s HVAC and water
air, pumping heat out of the ambient air into your pool heating systems.
or hot water tank. However, they too rely somewhat on There are thousands of geothermal heated pools around
cooperative weather conditions—that is; air temperatures in the U.S. There is a good chance that the local YMCA,
being warm enough to facilitate extraction of heat to hotel, health club or community pool near you already has
transfer to potable water and/or pool heating needs. Air- geothermal-sourced pool heating, because they maintain
source heat pump efficiencies are in the 3.0 COP ranges heated pools year round.
(300 percent efficient).
For swimming pool and spa heating, the best scenario is Jay Egg is a geothermal consultant, writer and the owner of EggGeothermal.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION 11