About GeoKISS
GeoKISS is a web site created to assist ground source heat pump (a.k.a. geothermal heat pump) designers and installers in providing long lasting and low energy systems that don’t cost an arm and a leg. The avenue to do this is simple and solid piping, equipment and controls. Hopefully, the information in the web site will help readers discern what is proven to be successful and cost effective and what is marketing of higher price components.
The primary component of my GSHP resume is length of time in the industry. This experience began 1960 (watching my dad install a still operating open loop system in southeast Texas). I learned a lot from him, my teachers at Lamar University and Oklahoma State University, my University of Alabama students, my friends and colleagues, mistakes we’ve made, and things that have worked well. It has been enjoyable and a privilege to work in the HVAC/GSHP industry and the web site is an attempt to share practices that have matured and improved.
Second to the value of simplicity is the belief that successful GSHPs are HVAC systems and should be designed accordingly. If an engineer cannot design both the GSHP loop and HVAC system, avoid them like the Plague and find someone who can. The industry is beginning to realize the conventional practice of having the contractor responsible for the system outside the building wall with the design engineer handling inside the building is a recipe for disaster. If things don’t go well they will each blame the other for the faults and a jury will seldom be able to decide who pays to correct the system to operate as advertised.
The GSHP loop is an unwelcome guest to the HVAC “design-build-bill-pay” industry. Thus, there is a temptation to minimize the cost of the GSHP loop by making it too small. Approximately 25% of the HVAC cost is going to a network that is unseen, will require few or no service calls, will outlast two, three or more equipment replacements, will need zero control system upgrades, and will not entail “retro-commissioning” (a.k.a. retro-fixing FUBARB controls that may have never functioned as intended). A solid, leak-free, properly sized GSHP loop will enable far less expensive HVAC equipment to be installed inside the building. Therefore, it will not high profit margin HVAC vendors but rather be a long term economic value to owners/occupants and HVAC vendors who are more responsive to their client needs.
Since the HVAC components for GSHPs can be simple and economical, high performance commercial building GSHP systems can be designed and installed for less than many conventional systems IF owners and architects select quality engineers/designers. Selecting a quality engineer requires the submission of portfolios of successful and cost effective installations with numbers (installation cost, energy use, maintenance records, owner/occupant testimonials). This web site includes examples of these portfolios. There are some very good engineers available but to the untrained eye they appear no different than mediocre ones.
Please peruse the web site and send comments or questions as needed.
Steve Kavanaugh,
Professor Emeritus (retired) of Mechanical Engineering
The University of Alabama