Geothermal HVAC in the CEET Panic Room

Geothermal HVAC can be used to heat a building in the winter and cool a building in the summer for a fraction of the cost of traditional heating and cooling systems.     Graphic from Southwestern Geo-thermal: http://swgeothermal.com/Geothermal.aspx

Geothermal HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) uses the Earth's ground temperature to heat buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer. The temperature five feet deep in the ground (below the frost line) is relatively constant year-round at about 55°F. Loops of piping must be buried below the frost line horizontally or vertically. These pipes are connected to a pump in the building which circulates a mixture of antifreeze and water. During the cold winter months, heat from the ground is transferred to the air in a building through the refrigerant process. This heat can reduce the amount of heat generation needed from an electric or gas furnace. The process is reversed in the summer months. During warmer months, the system will transfer heat from the building into the ground. This reduces the amount of heat build-up in the facility which decreases air conditioner usage.

CEET is considering building a small room inside the greenhouse. The room will be cooled by Geothermal HVAC, so the temperature in the room will be cool, while the greenhouse temperature will be over 100°F. This "panic room" will allow greenhouse workers to step out of the heat and into a cool environment for a few minutes of comfort. Pictures and information will be posted when more details are available on this project.