Precision GSHP Savings with Real-Time Data

In North America, most residential ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems use a vertical ground heat exchanger and a water-to-air heat pump for heating and cooling the home. These systems come with a higher initial cost, but they promise significant energy savings due to their 3 to 5 times greater efficiency compared to conventional furnaces and air conditioning units. However, after installing a GSHP, how can you verify that it's actually saving energy, reducing costs, and cutting CO₂ emissions as promised?

This case study shows how real-time data solves that problem. Using our integrated Vigilant^® system, a homeowner measured and confirmed their energy savings, cost reductions, and CO2 emissions reductions with real data.

The Case Study: Monitoring and Verifying GSHP Performance

A homeowner in a 1,500 ft² bungalow in Canada had an existing 3-ton single-stage water-to-air heat pump with 12 vertical boreholes drilled 55 feet deep. In 2022, we installed our Vigilant^® smart logger onto their GSHP, which tracks both electrical and thermal energy in real time. The smart logger sends data via Wi-Fi to our remote server for detailed analysis. The homeowner wanted to know how the GSHP performed compared to a conventional system, which would have used a 90% efficient natural gas furnace and an electric AC unit with a COP of 3.

The Results: Measured Savings Over Two Years

After two years, the data collected by the Vigilant^® system revealed that the GSHP saved the homeowner 32,651 kWh annually compared to the conventional heating and cooling system. The system's average COP was 5.3 for cooling and 3.3 for heating, demonstrating the GSHP’s superior real-world efficiency.

Vigilant^® GSHP Energy & COP Dashboards

These numbers translated into significant benefits:

• CO₂ Emissions Reduction: The GSHP cut CO₂ emissions by an average of 8,637 lbs annually by using clean electricity compared to conventional fossil fuel systems.
• Cost Savings: The homeowner saved an average of $606 annually on energy bills.
• Peak Demand Reduction: The system reduced peak electrical demand by 1.6 kW, as measured from the real power usage of the GSHP system. For a 3-ton unit, this amounts to a reduction of 0.526 kW per ton, a valuable figure for utility grids increasingly stressed by electrification.

Vigilant^® GSHP Power Consumption Dashboard

These results highlight the importance of measuring actual performance. Estimated savings can easily misrepresent the true impact of a GSHP system, while real-time data from the Vigilant^® system provides precise insights. This ensures energy savings, cost reductions, and emissions cuts are accurate and verifiable, giving homeowners confidence in their investment. For companies selling Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), this real, data-backed evidence makes their offerings both trustworthy and valuable. In a marketplace that demands transparency and accountability, real-world data not only builds credibility but also offers a competitive edge.

As government regulations and market expectations shift toward greater transparency in renewable energy claims, systems like Vigilant^® become crucial. Real-time data verifies REC authenticity while revealing potential efficiency gains, often increasing REC outputs beyond initial estimates.