Geo Connections
writing the book on geothermal The four-person business of Geo Connections, Inc. has designed over 10,000 tons of ground source heat pump systems for a wide range of clients.
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Small Business Speaking Volumes by Joel Cornell
The four-person business of Geo Connections, Inc. wrote the book on geothermal loop systems and has Designed over 10,000 tons of ground source heat pump systems.
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hen relying on a company to manage the design of your geothermal system, it’s always nice to have a company who has read every book on the subject. When dealing with the design, education and software firm of Geo Connections, Inc., every client benefits from the company and professionals who have quite literally written the book on geothermal ground loop design services. The small, yet talented team at Geo Connections, Inc. has designed nearly 10,000 tons worth of ground source heat pump systems throughout the United States and Canada since 2006. Comprised of only four employees, Geo Connections, Inc. encompasses a wide range of services for the geothermal industry with a total combined experience of over 50 years. “Initially, we began by focusing on the need within the industry for installation contractors,” said engineer and co-principal Ryan Carda. “While we were fairly successful in that first year, we found that our experience as engineers and designers could be put to much better use behind the scenes, rather than in the field digging trenches. We were really successful at physically doing the installations, but we saw some saturation beginning to take place in that market, so we decided to go where there was more of a need for our unique skill set.” It was at this point that Geo Connections, Inc. began to transition into what is now their incredibly successful current business model. One major focus of their operations is in designing custom plans for contractors and geothermal loop installers. Using their many years of experience, they are able to consistently and reliably provide quality geothermal design solutions, all across the country. “Our philosophy is to encourage all contractors to do what they do best,” said engineer and co-principal Jared Horn. “They can specialize in working with their clients in their specific geographic market and in the nuances of installation in their area, while we use our expertise to provide the ground loop and GSHP system designs.” “A client or installer using Geo Connections, Inc. for their geothermal design services is somewhat like buying a company insurance policy,” Carda said. “Our customers can approach any project with the confidence and knowledge that the system will work, guaranteed, as long as our specifications are followed.” Geo Connections, Inc. offers a wide variety of geothermal design services specifically tailored to meet any needs that a client may have. They offer basic design services, for ductwork, geothermal loops and 1. Ryan Carda and Jared Horn discussing LoopLink Projects.
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heating systems alike. Additionally, they offer commercial and light commercial ground heat exchanger design services. All of their design packages include specific services, from heat pump scheduling and duct design to interior piping design, head loss calculations and circulating pump selection. Should a client have specific needs, Geo Connections, Inc. can alter any of their standard sets of services to include specific additional services as required. The many years of experience that the fourman team at Geo Connections, Inc. can offer goes much further than design. Quite literally, Geo Connections, Inc. has written the book on geothermal design and installation of ground source heat pumps. Their 560-page manual is the official Residential and Light Commercial Design and Installation Manual for the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. This manual now serves as an industry standard, and covers heating and cooling design load calculations, piping materials, properties and flow characteristics, how to configure and layout closed loop ground heat exchangers, flushing and purging GSHP systems and a massive troubleshooting guide to help fix and repair a wide variety of issues. Training via guides or manuals is only a small part of the contributions that Geo Connections, Inc. makes to accrediting and training in the geothermal industry. “The ground source heat pump industry is experiencing rapid growth throughout the United States and Canada, due in large part to increasing energy costs and a heightened environmental awareness,” Carda said. “One of the key limiting factors to this growth is the accessibility of properly trained loop field designers and installation professionals.” Mainly centered on the East Coast, but spanning across the continent, Geo Connections, Inc. provides intensive training sessions for industry professionals and newcomers alike. Their typical classes include a wide variety of industry professionals, from HVAC contractors, drillers and plumbers to architects, engineers and building owners. The starter course covers not only the basics of geothermal design and loop installation, but also the nuances and finer points of the world of geothermal. Carda, Horn and Geo Connections, Inc. President, Dr. Charles Remund, run the courses. Their total experience and knowledge infuses the classes with hard-earned experience and a diverse range of expert knowledge. The course topics include economics, marketing and demand reduction; thermal conductivity; selecting, sizing and designing heat pump systems; grouting procedures for GSHP systems; ground heat exchanger installation methods; flushing and purging the systems; and heat pump system start up and checkout. Those who complete the class and pass the final exams receive an IGSHPA Accreditation. This is beneficial because installers can declare their accreditation to prospective clients, many of whom require the certification to do business. The installer is added to the official IGSHPA online database. The contributions that Geo Connections, Inc. makes to the geothermal industry do not stop at extensive training and custom design services. They also are the designers and providers of LoopLink, web based software made specifically to optimize residential and lightcommercial geothermal systems. 2. Jared Horn demonstrating how to read antifreeze concentration. 3. Example page layout for LoopLink project summary report.
MIDWEST GEOTHERMAL As the cost of fossil fuels continue to increase, the idea of “going green” has become increasingly popular. Midwest Geothermal installs geothermal loop systems, using the Earth’s natural energy to meet your comfort needs. With extensive experience in all types of loop field designs, Midwest Geothermal has the experience to make your geothermal installation a success. For more information visit www.mwgeothermal.com. Fall 2010 5
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4 The software includes design capabilities, budget forecasting and economic analysis, comprehensive head-to-head comparisons between GSHP and conventional heating and cooling solutions, and geothermal system efficiency analysis tools. Because the program is entirely webbased and can be run through almost any web browser, it is available from any computer at any time. Also, the engineers at Geo Connections, Inc. are available to work within the program itself with the user to help them obtain solutions and solve problems on the go. Because of the versatility of the software, the user base for LoopLink is quite broad. LoopLink can be used by a homeowner to establish what exactly they would gain and save from using a geothermal system. It’s also a vital tool for any loop installer looking to give this kind of crucial information to their customers before they invest in a geothermal system. Additionally, LoopLink uses a massive database that can compare a GSHP with other methods of obtaining renewable energy from alternative sources. “LoopLink isn’t just the first geothermal software designed around the new IGSHPA standards,” said Carda. “It’s the only software designed by the authors of those standards.” The sheer scope of the services that Geo Connections, Inc. provides with their four engineers speaks volumes for the talent and experience that has led them to be what they are today. ELT 4. Ryan Carda explaining radiant system controls. 5. Ryan Carda and Jared Horn reviewing plan drawings. Photos courtesy of Geo Connections, Inc.
AMERICAN ECOTHERMAL INC. American EcoThermal Inc. (AET) now offers EcoTherm, a patented, capital preserving, cost-fixing way to deliver space conditioning BTU’s to your properties. AET supplies capital and certification resources to install the external geoexchange loop field for a building in exchange for a fixed price per BTU, 15-25 year contract for the use of that loop field that represents up to 10% savings off today’s costs. For more information, visit www.americanecothermal.com. 6 Energy Leaders Today
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