Schools all over the country are being conditioned by the natural warmth of the earth with geothermal heat pump technology. Heating, central air conditioning and domestic hot water - three important benefits - can be generated from a single compact unit.

Geothermal heat pumps offer an amazing opportunity for schools to not only reduce their energy costs, but also provide cleaner air, a safer environment for students, and a live demonstration of energy efficiency that can inspire science class discussions.

A geothermal heat pump can provide years of worry-free energy to both heat your school in the winter and cool your building during the summer with clean, renewable energy - all while reducing operating expenses.

Ade Okusaga. Capital Project Engineer.
Norfolk Public Schools, Norfolk, VA

If all the schools in the U.S. replaced their conventional HVAC systems with geothermal technology, the impact would be similar to:

• Taking 37 million cars off the road
• Saving 2.6 billion gallons of gasoline
• Planting 8 million acres of trees
• Reducing U.S. reliance on imported fuels by 61 million barrels a year

Source: GeoExchange

There is one type of geothermal heat pump system that can be considered for your school. "Closed loop" systems use the earth as the heat transfer medium, employing a mixture of water and non-toxic antifreeze pumped through a continuous loop of sealed pipes buried beneath the ground, vertically or horizontally.

Groundwater or a fluid circulating inside a sealed piping loop absorbs heat from the earth. In the heat pump, refrigerant is compressed to raise source heat to a higher temperature and heat the air or hot water for distribution throughout your school.

The system reverses and expels heat from your school to the cooler earth via the loop system or ground water. This heat exchange process is not only natural, but is a truly ingenious and highly way to create a comfortable climate in your school.

Plentiful hot water provides added capacity for cafeterias, locker rooms, restrooms and dorms. In the summer hot water is virtually free-produced by the waste heat extracted from interior air during the cooling cycle.

Geothermal heat pumps have no ßame, no ßue, no odor and no danger of fumes.

Ground loop pipes have warranties of 50+ years. These systems are dependable, reliable and have a long service life.

Schools throughout the nation are now enjoying the comfort of natural, dependable warmth from geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heat pumps remove many of the negative factors that are associated with traditional dirty energy sources. Not only will the general environment of the building be improved, but you will also be able to remove bulky and loud boiler room equipment and improve the aesthetics of your building.

• Natural and increased indoor air quality
• No rooftop or ground mounted equipment to be damaged by the weather, vandalism or roof leaks
• When installed properly, geothermal equipment is as quiet as a refrigerator
• With no boilers, smoke stacks or fuel tank, they use about one-third of the space of a traditional boiler room, leaving more space for classrooms
• The operating unit is inside and the heat exchanger loop is underground, protecting children from dangerous outdoor equipment
• Unlimited architectural creativity for attractive exterior and roof designs
• Modernize historical buildings without negatively impacting their appearance

Cary Smith, CGD CEM, Sound Geothermal Corporation

Geothermal heat pumps not only provide dependable, natural heat-they also provide schools with more financial independence through the money the heat pumps can save. The savings produced by a geothermal heat pump can be reallocated for books, computers, teachers salaries and more. What would your school do with the money saved from a geothermal heat pump? Geothermal heat pumps have the lowest life cycle cost today : 25% to 50% less than a conventional system Savings depend on location and which GSHPS you use Will normally cost more than a roof top or split system, but will pay back that cost difference in approximately two years Considered the technology of choice by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency

In addition to reducing your school's environmental impact and heating costs, geothermal heat pumps also reduce the ongoing maintenance that is associated with traditional dirty energy sources. Today's common boilers and chillers require far more routine check-ups, cleaning and maintenance than geothermal heat pumps. See how geothermal heat pumps are helping a school just like yours.

In thousands of Kilograms per year, see how geothermal heat pumps are helping a school just like yours.

Jordan School District, Salt Lake City, UT: Average Energy Cost ($/ft2)

Getting started exploring the potential of geothermal heat pumps is easy-and with incentives in place from federal and state governments, now is the time to take advantage of the immense cost savings and environmental benefits of renewable energy. Contact your FHP-Bosch Group representative today to learn more about the future of energy.