Geothermal Drilling

The North Carolina State Board of Plumbing Heating and Fire Protection Examiners has changed it's rules for installation of the ground loop, both vertical & horizontal, including the header lines and fusion of all piping.

Read the new ruling HERE!

This is effecting all of us that install the geothermal heat pump systems, including the licensed HVAC contractors. The HVAC contractors feel this should be the Drillers responsibility as, at least the vertical loop is part of the borehole.

Vertical Ground Heat Exchangers for Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Federal Geothermal Heat Pump Tax Credit

PRESS RELEASE

February 22, 2009

Geothermal (GeoExchange) Heat Pump Technology is Poised to Support Economic Recovery and Long-Term Energy goals

The stimulus package is intended to create and save 3.6 million jobs and jumpstart the economy with economic recovery tax cuts and targeted investments. In addition to putting money back in the pockets of consumers and businesses, the package also includes provisions that will help achieve long-term goals, such as improving energy efficiency in both the public and private sectors.

Among those provisions, the plan calls for a disbursement of $6.9 billion to state and local governments for energy efficiency upgrades and the reduction of carbon emissions, which amounts to an average of $100 million to each state. 

By investing a portion of this $100 million in rebates or low interest loans to homeowners who replace their old fossil fuel or electric furnaces with geothermal heat pumps, the country would definitely make progress toward the goals of the stimulus package.   States that have invested in similar programs were able to create hundreds of green collar jobs while significantly increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Green Jobs.  An additional state $2,000 rebate on the purchase of a geothermal heat pump – or the availability of low interest loans – could generate an additional 200 heat pump sales every month in a typical state, or 2,400 geothermal heat pump unit sales at the end of the first year.  Further, every 18 heat pump installations can create one new job. By the end of the first year that means 133 new green collar jobs can be created (2,400 units divided by 18 installations per job).  At $2,000 per unit, the total cost of a job creation/energy efficiency rebate program would be $4.8 million over the course of a year.

 Every geothermal heat pump requires 24 hours of manufacturing labor and 32 hours of installation labor. Small businesses involved in the installation include heating and air conditioning contractors, electricians, plumbers, excavators and drilling machine operators.  These businesses have the capacity and technical skills to begin installing green geothermal technology in more homes immediately.

 Reduced Carbon Footprint.  In addition to creating jobs, a rebate program and the ensuing installation of geothermal heat pumps would cut an average four metric tons of carbon emissions per year per unit due to the high energy efficiency of geothermal heat pump technology.  This means that for the average unit life of 24.4 years, 97.6 metric tons of emissions could be eliminated over the lifetime of each unit, and 234,240 tons over the lifetime of every 2,400 units sold through a state rebate program.

 A recent report published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory estimated that aggressive deployment of GHPs could achieve 35 to 40 percent of a recommended carbon reduction path for the U.S. building sector. The full report can be downloaded at ornl232.geoexchange.org

 If every state takes at least five percent of the funding available through the energy efficiency portion of the stimulus package and invests it in a geothermal heat pump incentive, there couldn’t be a more cost effective, greener way to put people back to work, save fossil fuel, reduce carbon emissions and save homeowners thousands of dollars per year for the next 24 years. It’s the stimulus that keeps on stimulating.

 Economic Recovery.  The stimulus package funding is critical to a U.S. heating and air conditioning industry that has been hit hard by the recession. The collapse of the residential new construction market and the lack of consumer financing have slammed the industry over the past two years, and heating system sales were down to levels not seen since 1970.

 Geothermal heat pumps are built by manufacturers in the United States at domestic plants in nine states, and geothermal heat pump systems are operating and saving energy in all 50 states and are being exported around the globe.   

For more information contact the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium at 888.255.4436 or www.GeoExchange.org or the GeoExchange Forum

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North Carolina

Renewable Energy Tax Credit - Personal

Date Effective:1/1/2009 Expiration Date:12/31/2015

North Carolina offers an expanded tax credit of 35% of the cost of renewable energy property constructed, purchased, or leased by a taxpayer and placed into service in the state during the taxable year. The credit is subject to various ceilings depending on whether the renewable energy equipment serves nonresidential or residential property; and, for residential property, the kind of renewable energy technology used. If the property serves a single-family dwelling, the credit is taken for the taxable year in which the property is placed in service. For all other property, the credit is taken in five equal installments beginning with the year the property is placed in service.

The credit can be taken against franchise tax, income tax or, if the taxpayer is an insurance company, against the gross premiums tax. The allowable credit cannot exceed 50% of the taxpayer’s tax liability for the year reduced by the sum of all other credits. The unused portion of the credit may be carried over for the next five succeeding years.

 

DSIRE

(Database of State Incentives for Renewable & Efficiency)

With the cost of fuel and that making other consumer products increase, IED is now drilling for the Geothermal Heat Pump Loop Installations. We are planning on purchasing a new Simco 2800 HS (HT) drilling rig to drill the vertical loop holes for the closed loop heat pump systems. We feel that there are going to be more Geothermal Heat Pump Systems installed in the very near future. It makes no sense installing outdated fossil fuel heating systems in new homes! If you are building a new home or remodeling a home, you really need to consider installing a  Geothermal Heat Pump System to: Reduce heating and cooling costs and related carbon emissions by 50% to 70% or more with paybacks as short as five years. Your savings can only increase as oil and gas prices rise! Eliminate your dependence on imported oil and help break the stranglehold foreign countries hold on the U.S. No more oil delivery trucks in the driveway! Eliminate flames and fumes in your basement. No fire or carbon monoxide dangers to threaten your family! Eliminate noisy foundation A/C units. Old A/C units are replaced by silent and invisible underground earth loops which don't spoil your summer outdoor environment! Enjoy year-round comfort. 95% of geothermal purchasers recommend the systems to their friends!

What is a Geothermal Heat Pump Sytem? Clean renewable energy for heating and cooling. Geothermal systems have 3 components: the earth heat exchanger, the heat pump (a vapor compression machine much like your own kitchen refrigerator), the distribution system (how the heating and cooling is delivered into your home)

Did You Know Geothermal heating systems do not produce and carbon dioxide, making it an earth friendly climate control system. According to the EPA, geothermal systems are the most energy efficient, cost effective and environmentally clean system available. A 2000 sf house can be colled & heated for as little as $1.00 per day.

How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Ground Source Heat Pump EnergyStar Geothermal Heat Pumps EnergyStar Geothermal Heat Pump Manufacturers

Check back with us soon about our Geothermal Heat Pump System Loop Installations!