Research Proposal

Proposed Research Topic: Geothermal Comparison Analysis – Beneficial for minimizing energy consumption and electrical costs?

Project Description: Geothermal systems have been around for a decade and were designed to use the earth’s natural properties to generate the heating and cooling of any residential or commercial building. The factor that leads society to wonder is if this new found trend of going green is going to be worth every bang for their buck. In this project study, I will determine how a geothermal system differs from an electrical furnace and air conditioning unit. The main focus will be how the two systems compare in the buildings overall energy consumption and its annual electrical cost.

Objective: The initial objective to this geothermal study is to research whether the selected geothermal system can produce the heating and cooling for the same conventional residential building as an electrical furnace and air conditioning unit that currently exists in the building. The resulting factors of this study, in theory, will establish a cost beneficial factor for home owner and a satisfaction of doing a personal favour to the planet. An additional objective is to determine, based on the selected home, if the specified reduction of energy consumption, domestic water heating costs and space cooling costs actually applies. In order to prove this theory, I will compare my calculated results to the expected reduction percentage of energy consumption (50-70 per cent), domestic water heating costs (25 per cent) and space cooling costs (40 per cent).

Theoretical Framework: I will be conducting my field work investigation for this geothermal study during the summer of 2010, from the months of May to August. I will be selecting the design of the conventional residential building from my home town of Falkland, B.C. Therefore my calculations and code requirements will be also based upon this area. I will be guided by the British Columbia Building Code, BC Hydro and the by-law requirements for the town of Falkland.






1: Ground Loop System
2: Heat Pump furnace Unit
3: Distribution System











Method:

1. Selection of a conventional house design which meets the following requirements of a standard electrical furnace and electrical air-conditioning unit.
2. Researching the function, design, capabilities and reduction benefits of a geothermal system thoroughly.
3. If necessary, a calculation of the heat loss and heat gain will be determined of the houses existing electrical furnace.
4. Research on location of selected home, with elevation, degree days below 18°C, site conditions and soil test in which the home is built upon as well as any other British Columbia Building Code requirements.
5. A copy of the houses’ actual annual electrical costs. (two year history)
6. A spreadsheet of the electrical furnace’s energy consumption. (total square footage of the selected home)
7. Based on the furnace’s energy consumption, a geothermal system will be chosen to reach the same heating requirements.
8. The geothermal systems expected annual electrical costs. (in terms, of number of years to be proven to produce the biggest “bang for your buck”)
9. Comparison spreadsheet of the energy consumption of the geothermal system to the electrical furnace.
10. Cost of the installation of the geothermal system. (if proven to be the most beneficial system for the selected home)