The Geothermal National and International Initiative Inc (GEO-NII) itself is a collaborative effort within the geothermal heat pump industry. We aim to share information, improve technologies, and grow the use of geothermal energies. We are looking for anyone that wants to “join” that team at all times. It isn’t about pushing one another out, it is about bringing more folks into the fold!

Take the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, or IGSHPA, an industry-leading organization chaired by GEO-NII’s own executive director and founder, Jack DiEnna, which offers training, certification, and educational opportunities, but also is one of the best ways to network, collaborate, and share ideas.

IGSHPA membership has much to offer its participants. For example, the 2023 live conference in Las Vegas this past fall was a great chance to hear what others in the industry are doing to move the geothermal world to the next level. Let’s take a look at Framingham, Massachusetts.

The conference was attended by Eric Bosworth, manager of Clean Technology, who is working on the country’s first project of its kind. And, in all reality, it is perfectly inline with GEO-NII’s exact missions.

Firstly, Bosworth said that his organization relies on the “geothermal knowledge-sharing” from associations like IGSHPA and its members, as Clean Technology navigates its way through a massive “first” in the industry.

The massive project involves Clean Technology as it partners with Eversource, a gas utility in its state, to build the first utility-owned network geothermal loop. Doing so requires installing a mile of shared main in Massachusetts for around 140 customers they hope to have onboard in early 2024.

Bosworth says that sharing at conferences like IGSHPA’s is win/win. He is able to share the process with other members, all while also getting input from attendees.

“Eversource, as a utility, didn’t have any existing experience installing necessarily ground-source heat pumps or certainly the infrastructure required for a network geothermal loop,” said Bosworth. “[The conference] was a great opportunity to both share the journey that we’re on installing this system, but also gain access to and have conversations with a lot of industry experts that could give us great feedback and guidance as we put this first system in.”

The project is the first of its kind, putting a GEO-NII goal into a real-world model. As you likely know, a very important part of our mission is to “advocate ‘rate recoverable’ geothermal heat exchanger (GHE) ownership for utilities and other third-party owners,” which is exactly the Eversource aim with this ground-breaking (literally and figuratively) project.

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In this eMagazine, learn about:

Shifting Ground for Geothermal Heat Pumps in Canada

Government and utility support for geothermal heat pumps has been running a bit hot and cold over the past several years in Canada.
Read More

Top 10 Common Mistakes in Ground Source Heat Pump Installs & How to Avoid Them

One of the primary oversights in installations often involves neglecting a comprehensive site assessment.
Read More

IGSHPA Spotlight Interview with Zeyneb and Audrey

Q & A with Audrey Schulman, HEET Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director and Zeyneb Magavi, HEET Co-Executive Director.
Read More

The post GeoOutlook January 2024 Vol. 18 No.1 Is Now Available! appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

This industry needs you, starting with continuing or renewing your membership to IGSHPA and supporting GEO in its efforts with Legislators. Your IGSHPA certification is the thing that sets you apart from your competitors. It lets your clients know that you are a trained technician, it gives you that edge.

The US DOE states that 40% of all primary energy used in the US is in buildings (greater than that used in transportation and slightly lower than industrial) and 40% of the energy used in those buildings is for space conditioning and water heating, which is exactly what our technology delivers and GHPs have finally been recognized by the US DOE as a renewable technology (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021).

In the studies done by the National Labs from 2006 to 2018 all point to the fact that an aggressive deployment of this technology is the best weapon in the war on climate change.

Those National Labs (NREL & ORNL) in that research state that an aggressive deployment of GHPs could save 4.2 quads (1 quad =293 B KWH,183 M barrels of petroleum & 980 B cubic feet of natural gas) and 45.1% reduction in energy consumption.

An aggressive deployment of this technology would also account for a reduction of 271.9 million metric tons of CO2 emissions and a savings of $52.2 B in energy expenditures. It would also reduce summer peak electrical demand by 215.9 GW.

This technology is also being studied by utility companies, (ConEd in NY & Eversource in MA have pilot projects in production now) that are seeing the value of the ownership of the ground loop. Their involvement will bring an enormous amount of work for our industry members. The fact is utilities are RISK averse not $$$ averse. They want to be sure that any installation that they are associated with has participants that will know what they are doing and will protect their interests.  

That is exactly what IGSHPA certification or a CGD certification provides, not only delivering a great project for the client but protecting the integrity of the technology. It is still the gold standard for this technology, and it is only getting better.

This technology does not need the sun to shine or the wind to blow, it does not mar the landscape or destroy environments and it is a technology that was developed HERE and its main purpose, aside from what was mentioned previously, is to deliver COMFORT to the end user.

The point of all of this is we need YOU to join the fight, to join or renew your membership in IGSHPA and attend the annual conference December 6th to 8th in Las Vegas. To support GEO in their meetings with elected officials and to promote this technology everywhere.

To suggest to a client that instead of paying $55,000 for an electric vehicle, put that investment into your home, get a 30% investment tax credit (thanks to GEO’s tenacity & hard work) and have a renewable that works whether you are home or not PLUS you don’t have to charge it. They may call you biased but you should be this renewable is the answer.

Now you can read this and blow it off as the rantings of a VETERAN (I refuse to use OLD) or you can join this movement and become involved with IGSHPA & GEO in bringing this technology from UNDERGROUND to being recognized as the real “green” technology that takes advantage of the “ENERGY UNDER OUR FEET”.

If you choose the latter, do not complain when the opportunity passes you by. Any questions contact me at 610-659-4998 or email at jdienna@geo-nii.org.

SEE YOU IN LAS VEGAS

The post OPEN LETTER TO THE GEOTHERMAL INDUSTRY appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

Geodelphia will be celebrating World Geothermal Day by giving you an opportunity to experience and learn about geothermal heating and cooling. The program will take place at the German Society at 611 Spring Garden St in Philadelphia on Saturday, October 22 from 10:00am to Noon. In 2019 the German Society of Pennsylvania completed a geothermal upgrade of the system heating and cooling the 20,000 square feet of their 130-year-old structure.

“Whether you THINK you CAN or you THINK you CAN’T … YOUR RIGHT!”
HENRY FORD

The post Geothermal: What’s it all about? appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

This industry needs you, starting with continuing or renewing your membership to IGSHPA and supporting GEO in its efforts with Legislators. Your IGSHPA certification is the thing that sets you apart from your competitors. It lets your clients know that you are a trained technician, it gives you that edge.

The US DOE states that 40% of all primary energy used in the US is in buildings (greater than that used in transportation and slightly lower than industrial) and 40% of the energy used in those buildings is for space conditioning and water heating, which is exactly what our technology delivers and GHPs have finally been recognized by the US DOE as a renewable technology (Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021).

In the studies done by the National Labs from 2006 to 2018 all point to the fact that an aggressive deployment of this technology is the best weapon in the war on climate change.

Those National Labs (NREL & ORNL) in that research state that an aggressive deployment of GHPs could save 4.2 quads (1 quad =293 B KWH,183 M barrels of petroleum & 980 B cubic feet of natural gas) and 45.1% reduction in energy consumption.

An aggressive deployment of this technology would also account for a reduction of 271.9 million metric tons of CO2 emissions and a savings of $52.2 B in energy expenditures. It would also reduce summer peak electrical demand by 215.9 GW.

This technology is also being studied by utility companies that are seeing the value of the ownership of the ground loop. Their involvement will bring a considerable amount of work to our industry members. The fact is utilities are RISK averse not $$$ averse. They want to be sure that any installation that they are associated with has participants that will know what they are doing and will protect their interests.

That is what IGSHPA certification or a CGD certification provides them. It is still the gold standard for this technology and it is only getting better.

This technology does not need the sun to shine or the wind to blow, it does not mar the landscape or destroy environments and it is a technology that was developed HERE and its main purpose, aside from what was mentioned previously, is to deliver COMFORT to the end user.

The point of all of this is we need YOU to join the fight, to join or renew your membership in IGSHPA and attend the annual conference December 6th to 8th in Las Vegas. To support GEO in their meetings with elected officials and to promote this technology everywhere.

To suggest to a client that instead of paying $55,000 for an electric vehicle, put that investment into your home, get a 30% investment tax credit and have a renewable that works whether you are home or not PLUS you don’t have to charge it. They may call you biased but you should be, this renewable is the answer.

Now you can read this and blow it off as the rantings of a VETERAN (I refuse to use OLD) or you can join this movement and become involved with IGSHPA & GEO in bringing this technology from UNDERGROUND to being recognized as the real “green” technology that takes advantage of the “ENERGY UNDER OUR FEET”.

If you chose the latter, do not complain when the opportunity passes you by. Any questions contact Jack at 610-659-4998 or email at jdienna@geo-nii.org.

The post Open Letter to the Geothermal Industry appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

Water use, and overuse, can be hard to ignore with how often we see droughts and wildfires in our news. This rise in awareness comes with a growing concern about how water can be saved and utilized more efficiently. Geothermal systems are proving themselves to effectively address these concerns and offer green, renewable, energy.

There is a misconception that geothermal systems require lots of water to operate, while the opposite is true. Some early systems did pump fluid from one system then dump it into another, but these are rare in modern applications. Even large commercial facilities can now save massive amounts of water with geothermal systems.

AWebb/SlimJim conducted a study in which they used a geothermal system to replace a 300-ton water-cooled chiller on a 150 room hotel in Florida. After a year of monitoring the hotel’s water use, it was found they saved 6,622,566 gallons of water valued at $64,373.44. This could make a huge impact on the bottom line of a business.

Similar geothermal technology can be used to replace gas or electric heaters in cold regions or scaled up for larger cooling operations. This study is just a stepping stone on the path Geothermal technology is on, a path to a world with more renewable energy and security for individuals and businesses from problems surrounding water.

Even on a residential scale, Geothermal systems are saving homeowners money and helping out the environment worldwide. Geothermal heat pumps are proven to be up to 45% more efficient than traditional systems. These cost savings are on top of the environmental impact of saving so much water and electricity.

Old or inefficient systems can be wasteful for a variety of reasons. Inefficiency in heating or cooling water means more water wasted to keep a system running. Whether it’s heating water for a shower or cooling it down to cool a building, the longer the process takes the more water is lost. Geothermal systems are extremely efficient in taking the excess energy that’s right below our feet and harnessing it for our use, from running our heating and cooling to offering hot water out of our taps.

So when it comes to a green way to cut back on water use and improve utility efficiency in general, it is hard to beat Geothermal. Not only is it a shining star of renewable energy, but it also replaces systems that waste tons of water every year. Water issues will continue to pop up nationally and globally, but geothermal technology will continue to develop and improve just as it has for the last century to combat these issues.

The post Saving Water appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

With your help, we can fill the IGSHPA Geothermal Pavilion with potential new clients for our exhibitors, and get more folks in front of our presenters to learn about our incredible industry and the work that is being done. Sponsors will get their brand out in front of more people, and everyone will have more opportunity to network with new faces!

Below you will find a link to our Media Kit with various sized logos, Sponsorship & Advertising flyers, and information about the conference & why they should attend. Please feel free to use any of these in your social media posts, newsletters or to share with your networks, including any connections to utilities, public works and other entities interested in the geothermal industry.

Media Kit Link Here

Thank you for your willingness to pass our event information on to your networks! Your involvement helps expand our reach to those that may not be familiar with IGSHPA and want to get involved with the geo industry!

Please feel free to email Sally Stephens with any questions you may have.

The post Help Us Get The Word Out About IGSHPA’s 2022 Conference! appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

A recent study from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) states that over 36,000 K-12 schools in the U.S. have failing HVAC systems. That is, over a third of the primary schools in the country with faulty, or no, heating and cooling. These conditions make it difficult and even unsafe for students to learn and engage properly at school.

In the face of these issues, more and more schools are turning to Geothermal heat pump technology to keep their facilities sustainable, comfortable, and healthy. A Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP) uses thermal energy from ground under our feet to keep a building warm or cool, no matter the location or weather.

The foundation of a GHP system is a series of pipes buried deep underground that circulates water at a depth where temperatures remain stable year-round. This ground loop feeds the heat exchangers in the building giving every room their own environment and keeping the students and staff comfortable.

The US EPA has stated that Geothermal Heat Pump technology is the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly HVAC system available today. It is also the most sustainable with the indoor equipment lasting up to 25 years and the ground loop lasting 50 to 100 years. Higher reliability means less maintenance. Less maintenance means more time for students in a healthy, safe environment.

K to 12 schools are an ideal “anchor” tenant for a networked geothermal system. Schools typically have a large parking lot or a soccer or baseball field that would become the location of the ground loop heat exchanger. The network would then branch out to the surrounding homes or businesses. This type of application would take full advantage of the diversity in the two end users. When the school is using the loop field the homes are typically unoccupied and when the homes are occupied, the school is closed or has limited use.

By the time a student graduates from High school. They have spent 15,600 hours inside a school. For the 50 million K to 12 students in the US it is a time of rapid physical growth, hormonal changes and intense learning & critical social development. Installing a geothermal system in a school, not only eliminates the “I’m too hot —I’m too cold” issue but also saves energy, reduces emissions and promotes a better learning environment.

Finally, schools have historically been institutions of progress and change. Many schools are even making sustainability a core value. When paired with other renewable energies, geothermal can cut a school’s emissions to almost zero.

Geothermal heat pumps are a forty year old “new” technology that is now being recognized as a major weapon in mitigating climate change. Installing this technology in K to 12 schools and using that school as the “anchor” end user for the ground loop not only supports emission reduction but also teaches the students and staff the real value of this renewable technology. A technology that promotes Energy independence & security, Emission reduction and Economic prosperity.

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Wanna know how we celebrate Earth Day? We sing about it! Check out this honky tonkin’, a-rockin’ song produced–just for us–by our digital marketing company MediaMark Spotlight.

The post Happy Earth Day – Listen to this! appeared first on GEO-NII - Geothermal Heat Pump.

Water. It’s essential to just about everything we do in life. From the regulation of our bodily functions to cooking a meal, water is involved. This makes it all the crazier that over half the states in the Union are suffering from water-depravation issues But the same technology that has been heating and cooling homes for over 40 years saves water too!

Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHPs) use the energy that exists just under our feet to heat and cool a building, getting five units of energy for every one unit of electricity. . They extend this efficiency to water use as well, with most systems, being filled one time, wasting no water at all.

In a study conducted by AWebb/SlimJim, they replaced a 300-ton water-cooled chiller, in a 150 room hotel in FL, with a geothermal system. In one year that system saved 6,622,566 gallons of water with a dollar savings of $64,373.44.

Can you imagine if that technology was installed in the major hotels & casinos in Las Vegas, it would be a major weapon in the war against water deprivation?

The larger a building the more it takes to heat or cool it, meaning larger structures like hotels and commercial buildings use a lot of energy and water to keep things hot or cool. Evaporative cooling, although it works, only increases the need for more water, a closed Loop GHP system is filled one time and will continue to deliver space conditioning while saving dramatic amounts of H2O!

A report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) states that geothermal heat pumps can be used in every State in the Union. They can warm home in Anchorage just as effectively as it can cool one in Arizona! All the while using a fraction of the energy a traditional system uses while supporting more responsible use of our precious water.

The growth of GHPs offers a unique and attractive effective solution to heating and cooling as well as water wastage conservation. This technology is not new, it is now recognized by the Federal Government as a renewable technology that not only delivers comfortable heating and uses the earth as a thermal storage battery but can also protect our water supply for generations to come.

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