Geothermal Heating and Cooling Workshop to Take Place in Austin, Texas on April 7th

Learn All About Geothermal Heating and Cooling in Austin

The Geothermal Heating and Cooling Workshop is taking place in Austin, Texas on April 7^th from 8:00am to 4:30pm at the Norris Center.

Consumers in general have growing concerns over high energy consumption from AC units and related CO2 emissions, and people are flocking to Geothermal Workshops all over the country to gain a better understanding of geothermal heat pumps, and how they can improve their lives and put some hard earned cash back in their pockets.

WLKY Coverage of
Whisper Valley Geothermal

All are welcome to register and attend, with speakers covering everything from the basics of geothermal exchange to particulars of energy and fresh water savings and Net-Zero, to geothermal master planned communities such as the Whisper Valley Development of 7500 geothermal homes in Austin.

A geothermal or “earth-coupled” HVAC system is packed with "Earth Friendly" benefits, especially when compared with any other types of air-conditioning and heating systems. As heating and cooling systems go, a ground sourced system comes closest to the way Mother Nature would heat and cool your home if given the opportunity

That's because with geothermal, your house becomes coupled with the Earth beneath, sharing that temperature with your environmentally friendly geothermal heat pump, similar to the way the roots of trees share nutrients with their branches and leaves. Take a look at some of the environmental benefits you can enjoy with geothermal systems:

Geothermal Couples with the Earth; Nothing Outside

1. Reduction in use of chemical refrigerants (geothermal usually has no refrigerant lines to the outside; just closed loop water pipes underground)
2. Elimination of combustion related heating in the home (earth is the energy source; the sun replenishes warmth seasonally and continually, providing a truly renewable heating source).  Fundamentally, geothermal heating is no different than solar heating.  Earth is the great big solar collector, and we can tap into that heat all year long (with or without solar collectors).  A better answer!
3. Enabling the use of waste heat from the compressor for Domestic Hot Water (instead of exhausting it to outside air in the summertime) further reducing environmental impacts relating to combustion or electric heating of domestic water.
4. Reduced electrical consumption compared other heating and cooling systems (resulting in fewer  emissions from power plants)
5. Reduced Noise Pollution (from outside equipment cycling noises and distractions)
6. Net-Zero is more easily attained through Solar PV in combination with the remarkable energy savings with Geo.
7. Commercial Buildings can eliminate fresh water consumption from cooling towers with geothermal exchange. 

#GeoDay2015

Pre-Register here to ensure you have a seat.

More information on Geo? Just use #GeoDay2015 for social media, and checkout the Geothermal Day Website , IGSHPA and the Geothermal Exchange Organization. 

Jay Egg is a geothermal consultant, writer, and the owner of EggGeothermal. He has co-authored two textbooks on geothermal HVAC systems published by McGraw-Hill Professional. He can be reached at jayegg.geo@gmail.com .

New York State Leads the US in Geothermal HVAC Policy

March 18, 2015, NY-Geo Conference Skidmore College,Saratoga Springs, NY

Greg Hale, Senior Energy Advisor to Governor Cuomo  photo: John Ciovacco

“I draw a distinction between a lobbyist and an advocacy group. I would spend money on embracing NY-Geo and raise enough money for some staff to keep up the pressure. The next wave is upon us; get up on the board and surf this one!”

- Greg Hale- Senior Energy Advisor to Governor Cuomo

Scholarships Available for NYS Geothermal Heat Pump Conference

Press Release

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., March 6, 2015 – The New York Geothermal Energy Organization today announced the availability of 25 scholarships to its 2015 annual conference to be held March 17^th and 18^th at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.  Dubbed “geopalooza” the 2-day event will focus on geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) as a way to cleanly and renewably heat and cool our homes and buildings, and eliminate on-site fossil fuel burning.  Attendees will hear from cutting edge technical and policy experts on how GHPs can be used to eliminate greenhouse gases and reduce energy bills.  

NYC Council Renewable Energy Conference; Geothermal is Key

February 27, 2015, NYC-CUNY-The New York City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection recently invited experts in renewable energy systems to provide guidance toward implementation of site-sourced and stored renewable energy.

“National Geothermal Day” Announced at AHR Chicago

"National Geothermal Day" Campaign To Focus on Education #GeoDay2015

The Geothermal HVAC industry is coming together to educate consumers with a pointed campaign that will culminate in a “National Geothermal Day” proclamation on October 20^th during National Energy Month. Geothermal HVAC is Solar Energy stored in the ground beneath us, and this educational campaign will enlighten consumers and school-aged youth on this truth.

Taco HVAC Impresses Yet Again at the AHR Expo in Chicago

Johnny White Shares Taco's Values and Goals

The AHR Expo in Chicago is off to a smooth start, and true-to-form, Taco-HVAC the “Hydronic Systems and Components Company” is on hand in brilliant “Taco-Green”.

Taco-HVAC has a beautiful booth this year from which Johnny White (Taco’s President) shared his 3 goals for the future:

• Organic Growth
• Inorganic growth
• Globalization

Taco's New "Project Builder" Promises to Make Design Work Even Easier

The success of Taco’s efforts centers on people; Johnny White called Taco a “community” and said that every purchase from Taco builds the future for real people.

Taco-HVAC has launched software called “Project Builder”, and if it’s anything like the HS2 software, we’re in for quite a treat. Check it out and see for yourself!

PS: I love to plug companies like Taco; simply because they make my job as a geothermal HVAC consultant/writer easier. -Jay

Jay Egg is a geothermal consultant, writer, and the owner of EggGeothermal. He has co-authored two textbooks on geothermal HVAC systems published by McGraw-HillProfessional. He can be reached at jayegg.geo@gmail.com .

Back to the Future for Geothermal HVAC

Geothermal is about to really Take-Off!  Keep watching for new information...

In the movie, “Back to the Future II”, during his visit to 2015, Marty purchases a 1950 to 2000 sports almanac, hoping to bring it back to the year 1985, opening the door to the potential for an advantage and some extra “earning potential”. The 2015 bad guy character “Biff” ends up stealing the almanac and bringing it back to Biff’s younger 1955 self. This is a fun story line, point being that they knew that armed with the information in the sports almanac, they would be betting on a sure thing.  We've all thought of the potential to capitalize on “sure-things”, and in hindsight, there are plenty of things I’d do differently had I known better.

One good way to capitalize is to watch trends.  One particularly prominent trend is the growth and expansion of renewable energy technologies.  Solar energy and wind generation have been successful; however an even better “sure-thing” is geothermal HVAC technologies.  Geothermal exchange has grown more slowly, but that’s about to change. 

If you could get in on the ground level of a technology that has nearly infinite potential, you’d do it, wouldn't you?  I'll be sharing some links to articles and information in coming days, weeks and months. Watch this blog for some great developments upcoming in 2015!

Update January 14th:  Great geothermal articles in Plumbing Engineer and PHC+News posted on this subject: http://goo.gl/vC5jwf  http://goo.gl/fxT5i2

Industry Stakeholders have created a website with vast resources to educate the public on geothermal heat pumps.  The “Geothermal Day” Website aims to raise awareness about environmental and economic benefits of geothermal energy and its vital role in building a clean and secure energy future. We are inviting industry partners, communities, businesses and educators to join efforts to advance further understanding and acceptance of geothermal technology as an unlimited, renewable form of energy. Join us by co-creating and sharing educational resources and participating in interactive activities in local communities and on-line. 

– Jay Egg is a geothermal consultant, writer, and the owner of EggGeothermal. He has co-authored two textbooks on geothermal HVAC systems published by McGraw-Hill Professional. He can be reached at jayegg.geo@gmail.com