Ground Source Heating and Cooling
One way to significantly reduce the environmental impact of heating and cooling your home is to install a ground source heat pump (GSHP).
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In winter, when heating is required, the GSHP transfers heat from the Earth to the interior of the building. In summer, when cooling is required, the Earth is used as a giant heat sink. This is the most efficient way to actively heat and cool a home.
The following is a list of Ottawa-area GSHP contractors who attended a seminar on GSHP that was hosted by KEN in February 2008:
GeoLogic Heating Systems www.greenchioce.ca (613) 839 0033
Bartonair Heating and Cooling www.waterfurnace.com (613) 794 7171
72 Degrees Heating and Cooling Solutions www.72degrees.ca (613) 831 8680
Carleton Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning Ltd. www.carletonrefrigeration.com (613) 257 8282
Kings Cross www.kingscross.net 613 271 0977
There are many different configurations of GSHPs that can be used, including open loop, which use wells or large bodies of open water, and closed loop systems, which pump refrigerant or water through horizontal or vertical pipes. KEN will soon be posting a podcast, the presentation slides and some new weblinks from our seminar that was held in February 2008.
There are a number of provincial and federal governments incentive programs which can amount to $8000. Federal rebates are available through the EcoENERGY Retrofit program offered by Natural Resources Canada. The provincial incentives are offered under Ontario’s Home Energy Retrofit Program.
More details about GSHPs are available from the Canadian Geoexchange Coalition.
Several KEN members installed GSHP systems in 2007. If you would like to talk to them about their experience, send us an email.