Geothermal Heat Pump Systems’ Contributions Towards Emissions Reductions

January 5th, 2011 by Albert Escobedo

On Thursday, December 16, 2010, the California Air Resource Board approved a plan that would place a cap in 2012 on the amount of carbon emissions from 600 major industrial plants in the state. This is a huge step towards California’s legislative goal set by the Global Warming Solutions Act to reduce green house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This is a 15% reduction in today’s levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

It would be fair to say, as the cap and trade policy is implemented, building owners will be obligated to find ways to cut their own greenhouse gas emissions. It can also be noted that although climate legislation on Capitol Hill has taken a halt, California’s bold efforts will produce response by other states that are sure to follow California’s lead. When this occurs the expense to emit tonnage of greenhouse gases will become very costly to building owners.

Facts about Carbon Emissions in the U.S.:

Major greenhouse gases consist of the following: CO_x, NO_x, SO_x, and O₃,. All of which are mostly formed directly or indirectly through combustion processes, and whose emissions can be correlated with CO₂ emissions:

The U.S. produces 1000 tonnes of CO₂ every 5.3 seconds
Per capita carbon emissions in the U.S. are approximately 19.5 tonnes per year
Fossil fuels account for 85% of the primary energy use in the U.S. and are responsible for 98% of CO₂ emissions
The transportation sector only accounts for 25% of all CO₂ emissions

Buildings represent approximately 40% of all energy use and an equivalent 40% of all CO₂ emissions in the United States. 65% of a building’s energy is consumed by heating and cooling, and therefore an approximate 26% of all CO₂ emissions in the U.S. are a result of heating and cooling of buildings. This means HVAC systems account for a little over 1/4 of all CO₂ emissions in the U.S., and the majority of a building’s carbon emissions.

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems (GHPS) could potentially reduce the amount of energy used for heating and cooling by up to 70% according to the EPA, resulting in an equivalent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. With elimination of heating equipment such as boilers and furnaces which use the combustion of oils and gases to heat buildings, and the elimination of cooling towers which utilize large amounts of energy, installation and use of GHPS result in zero on-site emissions and significant reductions in peak demand, which reduces emissions from power plants.

If all heating and cooling units in the U.S. were to be converted to GHPS a conservative total estimated reduction in energy used for heating and cooling of 50% could be obtained. This would result in an overall estimated 15% reduction in total carbon emissions for the U.S. For California, this would mean reaching the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act goal of 1990 level green house gas emissions.

Restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions for the major industrial plants are sure to be followed by policy restricting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allotted to buildings. When this occurs building owners are going to be looking for the most cost effective way to reduce their carbon footprint. GHPS are a sensible solution for the situation. The new cap and trade policy in California is sure to have a profound impact on the GHPS market. As building owners feel the financial burden of excess carbon emissions, the implementation of GHPS is sure to increase.

Albert Escobedo is an associate of EnLink Geoenergy Services, a full service geothermal heat pump system contractor, based in Los Angeles County.

Photo Credit: CSLP

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Tags: geothermal heat pump systems, geothermal heat pumps, GHPS, Global Weirding, U.S. Carbon emissions, US

About the Author

Albert Escobedo

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Mac McDougal

First advertorial I’ve seen here. Bad precedent.
- http://www.zacharyshahan.com Zachary Shahan
  
  @Mac: This is a guest post by an expert in the field. We have done these in the past as well. Geothermal is a great energy source and we greatly appreciate experts on the matter writing on it for us. I’m sorry if it turns you off. (We receive nothing for publishing it, of course.)
  - Guest
    
    GSHP are great in that they are very efficient.
    
    However, I invite you to calculate the amount of electricity required to pump liquids continuously up and down or sideways.
    
    There are other less conventional ways of cooling and heating which require less electricity.
    
    Masonry stoves, hydronic floors linked to solar water collector panels ( even in winter with lower delta) and wood stoves.
    
    Solar air conditioning for cooling
    - Bob_Wallace
      
      With closed loop geothermal you get help pumping up from gravity sucking down.
      
      If you size the hose/pipe large enough for the flow then you minimize the energy needed to move liquid.
      
      Hydronic floors also require pumping liquids so there’s no gain there on ground source heat pumps. Plus, in cloudy/snowy areas solar collectors are not going to function all that well, requiring a fossil fuel backup system.
      
      Masonry/wood stoves are good options for some, but we don’t have the wood to heat everyone’s home and there is the additional problem of soot/carbon black which is an additional contributor to global heating.
      
      Electricity can be generated ‘clean’. Use clean electricity to pump water through a heat pump and you’re creating no CO2 or soot.
PenelopeBall

As a LEED AP, I am finding great success specifying geothermal heating for my clients. Whenever a customer begins to question the merits or the actual efficiencies, we give them McGraw-Hill’s book on Geothermal HVAC. We haven’t had anyone question us since we started that policy. The fact is that geothermal heating and cooling is no longer magic; it’s for real, and it’s here to stay. Google “Geothermal Book”
- http://www.egggeothermal.com Lisa Green
  
  There is a very fun and informed book Im currently reading called Geothermal HVAC. This is an amazing book that really helps you understand the science and principle of how the earth can better heat and cool your home while saving you more than a standard heat pump.