Booth Registration for 2012 Illinois Geothermal Conference

Tuesday February 28, 2012 – Wednesday February 29, 2012

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

Thanks for registering a booth or booths for the GAOI’s second annual Illinois Geothermal Conference. All company’s registering a booth receive one free attendee registration so make sure you check your confirmation email for your promo code.

Remember that GAOI members receive a discounted price on their booths. If you aren’t currently a member of GAOI then click here to join!

Choose how many booths you want below.

Don’t forget if you are a gold sponsor you receive 25% off your booth reservation. Check your sponsor confirmation email to get your promo code.

** This registration is for booth space only.  YOU WILL STILL NEED TO REGISTER ALL ATTENDEES.  **

Click the following link for more information on booth decorations: excel Decorators, Inc.

Register

Save the date – Second Illinois Geothermal Conference, February 28-29, 2012

The Peoria Civic Center will be home to the second annual Illinois Geothermal Conference on February 28-29, 2012. The best and brightest in the geothermal heat pump industry will be in Peoria in late February for the conference. Save the date now.

Complete conference registration, sponsorship and exhibition information will be available electronically on December 1. Until then, for more information contact GAOI Executive Director John Freitag at jfreitag@aiec.coop, or 217-241-7973 (office) or 217-971-3533 (mobile).

Enertech announces Swedish investor, NIBE Industrier AB

NIBE Industrier AB has acquired a 10% share in Enertech Global, LLC. NIBE, which was established in 1952, has more than 8,000 employees, and conducts business in Europe, North America and Asia. Operations are organized around three business areas – NIBE Element, NIBE Energy Systems and NIBE Stoves. As one of the largest geothermal heat pump manufacturers in the world, NIBE has an interest in expanding into the North American market through its involvement with Enertech.

 “NIBE has a management team that we feel very comfortable with. We look forward to drawing upon NIBE’s experience in the industry, and finding synergies between the two companies,” said Steve Smith, President and CEO of Enertech Global. “Nothing will change for our customers or employees; we’ll simply have more expertise and experience to draw upon,” added Smith.

NIBE Industrier AB is a publically traded company on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (Mid Cap NASDAQ OMX Stockholm), and reported 6.5 Billion SEK (approximately US$1.03 Billion) in revenue for fiscal year 2010. Enertech Global will continue to operate from its corporate headquarters in Greenville, IL and manufacturing facility in Mitchell, SD.

 “Our partnership with NIBE will allow Enertech to grow at a much faster rate than otherwise possible. The added financial strength, coupled with Enertech’s innovative product design, puts Enertech in a unique position in the North American marketplace,” commented Enertech’s President and CEO, Steve Smith.

NIBE has the option in later years to acquire the remaining of shares in Enertech Global as part of the agreement.

(GAOI incorporating member Enertech produces geothermal heating and cooling products for both residential and commercial applications throughout North America. The company’s product lines consist of GeoComfort, Hydron Module and TETCO brands. Enertech’s corporate headquarters are located in Greenville, with production facilities in Mitchell, S.D. To learn more about Enertech, visit www.enertechgeo.com, www.geocomfort.com, www.hydronmodule.com or www.tetco-geo.com.)

Four GAOI members named to IDPH Closed Loop Certification Board

Six geothermal professionals, including four members of the Geothermal Alliance of Illinois (three of them GAOI board members) have been appointed to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Closed Loop Well Contractors Certification Board. The group includes:

*Dominique Durbin of Durbin Geothermal, Farina, and vice president of the GAOI board of directors;

*Lonny Hoover of Illinois Geothermal Engineering, Urbana, and past president of the GAOI board and current director:

*Ryan Kerry of Great Lakes Geothermal, Elburn, and current GAOI director:

*Jim Layten of  Kickapoo Drilling, Downs, and GAOI member;

*Harold Albrecht of Ohio, IL, and George Gaffke of Mundelein.

The appointments were made by the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. The board will serve until October 31, 2013. The six-member group will represent the geothermal loop installation industry of Illinois and the state as advisors to IDPH. The board was created by state law earlier this year and will advise/assist IDPH in establishing the testing/credentialing of geothermal verticle loop installers. The board’s first meeting is next month.

IGSHPA Installer Certification Course Nov. 15-17 in Cincinnati

Geo-Tec Co. will lead the IGSHPA Accredited Installer course November 15-17 in Cincinnati. The course is available to anyone in the geothermal heat pump industry. The course will conclude with the certification exam on Thursday, November 17. The workshop will be held at 2-J Supply Co., Cincinnati. The course fee is $975 per person and includes all instructional materials including manuals, fusion training with socket and butt fusion equipment, a three-year membership in IGSHPA, testing and certification by NATE/IGSHPA, refreshments and lunch each day.

For information or to register, contact Don Schuster, Dubuque, Iowa 52003, or call him at 563-582-9235, or go to www.geo-tecco.com or email geo-tecco@hotmail.com.

The ‘V’ in HVAC: design and control of ventilation systems

Ventilation is critical for making a building safe and comfortable. This full-day seminar will begin with a discussion of ventilation fundamentals, the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1, and an overview of the various types of ventilation systems. Then we will dig deeper into energy-saving ventilation strategies, such as demand-controlled ventilation and exhaust-air energy recovery. Finally, we will discuss the design and control of dedicated outdoor-air systems.

As a result of this training you will be able to:

• Provide occupant/tenant satisfaction
• Explain the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1 that impact the design and control of ventilation systems.
• Describe how ASHRAE 62.1 relates to meeting LEED prerequisites and earning credit points.
• Specify demand-controlled ventilation strategies for single-zone systems, dedicated outdoor-air systems, and multiple-zone VAV systems.
• Properly apply exhaust-air energy recovery in building ventilation systems.
• Design and control dedicated outdoor-air systems that balance indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Who should attend?
Architects, engineers, HVAC system designers working for mechanical engineering consulting firms or design/build contractors, energy efficiency specialists, commissioning authorities, control system technicians, HVAC equipment manufacturer’s representatives, and advanced facility engineers.

Cost for attending this training is $169. For information contact Lonna Kruse at 808-238-8276, extension 157, or email lkruse@ecw.org.

Growing Use of Geothermal Heat Pumps Will Enable Electricity Load-Balancing and Energy Management

Because the Earth maintains a constant temperature just 10 feet below the surface, systems that use shallow heat to control building temperatures above ground represent an easily accessible resource that can be deployed almost anywhere in the world. While the use of geothermal heat pumps and other forms of direct-use geothermal applications still make up a minuscule percentage of the overall heating and cooling market, growing electricity demand, rising energy prices, and increasing regulation around carbon emissions and energy efficiency will push demand higher over the next several years. Used on their own, geothermal heat pumps are capable of producing large reductions in energy use and peak demand in buildings. Used in conjunction with clean energy generation and whole-building efficiency — as in the recently announced partnership between Tendril and WaterFurnace International to offer a holistic solution combining home energy management with renewable energy — geothermal heat pumps can provide substantially increased benefits.

According to a recent report from Pike Research, geothermal heat pump sales will experience strong growth rates in the next several years, with annual unit shipments in the United States increasing from just fewer than 150,000 in 2011 to more than 326,000 units by 2017. The use of geothermal heat pumps integrated with energy management systems, such as programmable thermostats and utility demand response programs, will give homeowners and companies powerful new capabilities for adapting electricity loads in response to peak heating and cooling periods and for reducing energy costs.

“Direct-use geothermal applications, including geothermal heat pumps, face unique obstacles — primarily high installation costs,” says senior analyst Mackinnon Lawrence. “But increased retrofit activity, a rebound in construction, and growing interest in the commercial and institutional sectors will drive strong growth through 2017 for geothermal heat pumps.”

Led by the United States, China, and Sweden, 78 countries utilized geothermal for direct use applications in 2010. Geothermal heat pumps account for more than half of the direct use of geothermal worldwide, followed by bathing and swimming. Other applications include space heating, greenhouses, industrial processes, snow melting, and open ground heating. While cost and lack of consumer awareness remain primary obstacles to increased adoption, tax incentives and policies supporting building efficiency improvements will help overcome those barriers. Pike Research anticipates dramatic growth in the 2011-2017 timeframe, with the total worldwide capacity for geothermal direct use applications increasing by 179% during that period.

Pike Research’s report, “Geothermal Heat Pumps and Direct Use”, analyzes the global market opportunity for direct utilization of geothermal energy with a primary focus on heat pumps. The study includes a comprehensive examination of direct use markets, demand drivers, existing and emerging technologies, the public policy and regulatory environment, and key industry players. Market forecasts, segmented by geography, extend through 2017 and include examinations of market dynamics in all regions worldwide. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Geothermal system means no oil or gas bills for winter heating

From the Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, MN

By John Myers

At a time of year when most of us cringe at the thought of writing big checks for home heating bills, forgive Harold Hanson for smiling.

Hanson and his wife, Julie, installed a new furnace and air conditioning system last week that will keep their modest 1950s ranch in Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood warm without burning an ounce of fuel oil, propane or natural gas.

Like a growing number of Northlanders, they’ve turned to a ground source heat pump and geothermal energy to heat and cool their home. The same system also preheats the water going into his electric water heater for dishes and showers.

“We knew we had to replace our old oil heat system, and we were looking around for options,” said Hanson, a retired Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway clerk. “At first this seemed too expensive. But, when you throw in the rebates and tax incentives, and the fact we’ll never have to buy oil or gas again, it really makes sense for us.”

Hanson has a bit of a green side as well, and he’s happy to stop burning fossil fuel to heat his home.

The U.S. Department of Energy says 40 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions in the nation come from burning gas, coal and oil to heat and cool homes and buildings. Heat-pump systems

already in place are cutting more than 3 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, the equivalent of taking 650,000 cars and trucks off the road.

If the term geothermal conjures images of bubbling hot springs in Iceland, that’s only half right. In the Northland, geothermal heat in the ground actually comes from the sun and is stored below the surface in the ground or water.

Hanson’s system uses water from an old well on his lot that’s at a nearly constant 45 degrees as the source of heat energy. While the science is hard to explain, the heat pump transfers energy from that 45-degree water and converts it into 130-degree hot air to heat the house. In the summer, the same system can create cold air to cool the home.

The basement unit is about the same size as a traditional furnace.

In Hanson’s open loop system, after the well water is run over coils of antifreeze, the water, about four gallons per minute while it’s operating, is discharged back into the ground to percolate through a gravel field. Closed loop systems use a finite amount of fluid running through large coil systems buried to absorb warmth in the ground. Closed loop systems, buried about 8 feet under the surface, generally require a footprint about twice the size as the main floor of the building, so a larger lot is required.

“This (open loop) type of system was more attractive for us because we didn’t have to tear up the entire yard,” Hanson said.

Hanson’s system, including work to expand his well’s capacity and install a new electric service board in his home, will cost about $20,000. But rebates from Minnesota Power and the state of Minnesota, along with a 30 percent credit for the system off his federal income taxes, will bring the price way down.

And Hanson will never need to write another check for gas or oil again.

“The payback is generally about five years compared to a heating oil system or propane, maybe a little more, eight years, for a natural gas system,” said Jeff Aili, estimator and project manager for Summit Mechanical Systems of Duluth that installed Hanson’s system. “Think of it as an investment, and the rate of return is about 20 percent per year. How’s your IRA compare to that?”

For Hanson, the new system will eliminate last year’s $1,700 fuel oil bill and trim heating costs to about $550 for this winter, all for electricity. Heat pumps generally use more electricity than traditional systems, although the water-heating savings often help make up that difference.

Moreover, Hanson’s system will provide cheap central air conditioning in the summer. By a quirk of physical science, many systems actually use less energy in the summer if they are producing cold air for air conditioning, Aili said.

Summit — one of several companies in Duluth that install geothermal systems — is in the process of installing ground source heat pumps at several new homes across the region, as well as at major projects like the new Mont du Lac chalet. Local builders say about half of new homes are being built with heat pumps.

Summit also installed a new heat pump system that heats water for the outdoor swimming pool and hot tub at Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte. That system uses heat from the resort’s wastewater system to supply heat for the pool and hot tub. It also helps melt snow and supply heat for the building.

The new system cut Bluefin’s energy cost for the pool and hot tub complex from $28,000 annually to about $8,000, Aili noted.

In some areas of the Northland, geothermal systems also qualify for reduced “dual fuel” electric rates, Aili noted, saving homeowners even more.

Dave Gunderson of Duluth installed a ground source heat pump at his Lake Vermilion lake home two years ago. He liked it so much he recently installed a new geothermal system as part of a remodeling job on his home on Skyline Parkway.

“I knew absolutely nothing about it. I thought geothermal was getting heat from the earth’s crust or something,” Gunderson said.

In the first winter alone, the new system eliminated a $3,500 propane bill for the Vermilion property. Even after an increased electric bill to run the heat pump, Gunderson said he saved $2,500.

“That takes the payback from about nine years down to about three years,” he said. “With the numbers we’re seeing, I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t do this.”

Because it comes out at a lower temperature, the system runs more constant and more evenly disperses heat across all areas of the home, Gunderson said.

“We have a big vaulted room that was always cold while our bedrooms were boiling,” he said. “Now, it’s even across the whole house.”

Geothermal mulled as better option. Wind turbines, solar panels deemed too obtrusive

 Because wind turbines or solar panels are too obtrusive on the landscape, geothermal energy may be a better option for developing renewable energy in the city, Oregon Mayor Mike Seferian said. “To us, it’s more appealing when it’s underground,” Mr. Seferian said at a city meeting last week.

 Several Oregon City Council members said they want to explore geothermal energy options for heating and cooling local homes, businesses, and government buildings. Using geothermal energy — natural heat found underground — could be a cheaper alternative as propane costs rise and some Oregon residents live too spread out to tap into natural gas, some said. “I’m in total support of this,” said City Councilman Sandy Bihn. “I would love to see this thing happen in our community.” But Ms. Bihn said more information is still needed, such as how many residents are actually interested in hooking up to a proposed geothermal energy network. Other councilmen said they wanted to know what the actual cost saving on utility bills would be.

 At the Sept. 12 meeting, the council’s public utilities and environmental committee voted to write a letter of intent to show it wants to explore geothermal energy options without spending any city dollars. The issue will go before the full city council Monday, City Administrator Michael Beazley said. “We’re committing the time to do it, is what we’re saying,” Councilman James Seaman said about the purpose of the letter of intent. Daniel Skiba, president of two Indianapolis-based companies that install and operate geothermal energy units, told committee members it would take two to three years to hook up 114 Oregon homes and six businesses at a cost of $2.5 million as part of a proposed private-public partnership. In return, residents would save 15 to 40 percent on their utility bills compared to using propane or natural gas, Mr. Skiba said. Mr. Seferian said the biggest cost-savings to the city would be on the Oregon Municipal Building’s utility bills. “It has the efficiency of zero,” he said.

 Geothermal is becoming more popular in Michigan, especially in the Detroit area. In Northwest Ohio, one example of geothermal heating is the indoor practice field at the University of Toledo’s Savage Arena. But there is a push for more “green” energy options in Lucas County. In April, 2010, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority received a $15 million federal grant to make homes and businesses in the region more energy efficient.

From the Toldeo (Ohio) Blade

Great space

Springfield architecture firm John Shafer and Associates resides in an award-winning dream office just south of the city’s downtown. The office was designed with a perfect recipie of energy efficiency, edgy design and sustainability, using geothermal for the 2,900 square foot building. Collins Plumbing Heating and Cooling, a Springfield area WaterFurnace dealer, and Congerville loop installer The Hole Deal — both GAOI members – did the geothermal installation.

The building is the equivalent of a high level LEED facility. The energy usage in the all-electric facility is nothing short of remarkable — incredibly low. “I’m trying to use this building as a case study in how to design, build and operate a small office building – a great tool for my company,” notes Shafer, a fan of utilizing geothermal systems in the facilities he designs.

The attractive exterior of of John Shafer's new Springfield office building (above left) and the view from the second-level loft inside.

In addition to the geothermal system and a tight building envelope, the facility takes great advantage of daylighting in the office/work spaces, LED lighting, recycled wood and a reflective roof covering. The building, located at 1230 S. Sixth Street in Springfield, received AIA’s Sustainable Design Award for 2010. It was featured in the July/August 2011 edition of Green Building and Design magazine.

John Shafer and Associates can be found at www.shafer-arch.com.