Envy: Longing for the Familiar

Envy. It’s that feeling when you wish you had what someone else does. In the world of heating and cooling, people often envy the simplicity of traditional fossil fuel systems when dealing with Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems. After all, fossil fuel systems are familiar and straightforward. But trying to treat a GSHP like a regular old boiler or cooling tower? That’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. GSHPs play by different rules, and understanding them can mean the difference between frustration and success.

Why GSHPs Aren’t “One-Size-Fits-All”

Unlike conventional systems, you can’t just order a “50-ton” Ground Heat Exchanger (GHX) off the shelf. GSHP systems need custom designs tailored to their unique energy demands. And here’s the key difference: GSHPs don’t tap into an endless energy supply. They’re more like storage tanks, carefully balancing energy going in and out.

This is where people often get tripped up—they expect GSHPs to handle energy demands the same way traditional systems do. But with GSHPs, both the peak energy loads (the highest demand at a specific time) and the total annual energy loads (the energy used over a whole year) are equally important. If you ignore this balance, the system won’t work as well—or last as long.

The Tale of Two Buildings

Let’s compare two buildings in a cold climate: a church and a retail store. Both have the same peak cooling load of 50 tons and heating load of 1,000 MBH. Seems simple, right? Not so fast.

The church has annual heating needs of 200,000 kBtu and cooling needs of 100,000 kBtu. This imbalance happens because the church is mostly empty during the week, so it doesn’t generate much internal heat. Meanwhile, the retail store’s heating and cooling loads are perfectly balanced at 250,000 kBtu each.

If you design their systems based only on peak loads, you’d think they’d need the same GHX size. But because the church has such a big imbalance between heating and cooling, it needs a much larger GHX to keep up with its total energy demands. The retail store, with its balanced loads, requires a smaller GHX even though their peak loads match.

Smarter Tools for Smarter Systems

GSHP systems shine when paired with energy modeling and predictive monitoring tools. These tools let you track and forecast energy demands throughout the year, making real-time adjustments as needed. Unlike conventional systems that rely on static calculations, GSHPs thrive on real-world data.

For example, predictive monitoring can flag when a system’s heating and cooling loads are out of balance. By catching these issues early, you can tweak the system to prevent the GHX from being overworked—or underused. This not only saves energy but also extends the life of the system.

Trying to treat GSHPs like traditional systems is a recipe for disappointment. Instead, embrace their unique design: a careful balance of energy exchange with the ground. By considering both annual and peak loads—and using smart tools like predictive monitoring—you can unlock the full potential of GSHP systems. The result? Greater efficiency, lower costs, and a system that stands the test of time.

Explore other installments in our Seven Deadly Sins Series, where we address common pitfalls and best practices for proper Ground Heat Exchanger design and operation.