Geothermal using lake water > GreenBuildingTalk - Green Building Forums on Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF), Structural Insulated Panels (SIP), Radiant Heating, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Solar Power

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fly840

Registered Users

Posts:32

09/27/2008 11:55 AM
Sorry if this is already posted here. I am building on a steep lake lot in Alabama and would like to know if anyone here has any experience/knowledge of using the lake to immerse geothermal lines in. The lake does not freeze and I would be able to attain at least 30 feet of depth. The distance from the house to the lake is approx 100 feet. If anyone has any resources they could direct me to I would appreciate it. Thanks. Bill

geodean

Registered Users

Posts:590

09/27/2008 1:52 PM
Lake loops are quite common and work very well. Are you going to involve a contractor or do this your self?

Dewayne Dean PalaceGeothermal.com Why settle for 90% when you can have 400% We heat and cool with dirt! visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system

fly840

Registered Users

Posts:32

09/27/2008 5:22 PM
I built the house using ICFs and SIPs myself but will not tackle this part. I am most concerned with finding a contractor to properly size up my project as opposed to a 'rule of thumb'. On a related subject, if I go with lake geothermal do I need solar hot water, which I have always planned on using? I see from some posts that you can use residual heat to heat domestic hot water. Bill

geodean

Registered Users

Posts:590

09/27/2008 5:36 PM
You can search for installers here. Try and get at least three bids, make sure they all do a Manual J heat load calculation, and get a list of references. After you get the bids, we can help you evaluate them. Good luck and keep in touch.

Dewayne Dean PalaceGeothermal.com Why settle for 90% when you can have 400% We heat and cool with dirt! visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system

fly840

Registered Users

Posts:32

09/28/2008 9:42 AM
Thank you very much Dewayne. Bill

geodean

Registered Users

Posts:590

09/28/2008 3:19 PM
You are most welcome

Dewayne Dean PalaceGeothermal.com Why settle for 90% when you can have 400% We heat and cool with dirt! visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system

engineer

Registered Users

Posts:397

09/28/2008 9:58 PM
Solar hot water isn't excluded by a geo system, but the ability to desuperheat a geo system's refrigerant can cut domestic hot water cost by half or more, depending on individual circumstances (system tonnage, number of occupants, use of a preheat tank, etc.) The reduced cost of hot water increases payback period for a solar system.

Without data, you only have an opinion.

joe.ami

Registered Users

Posts:372

09/30/2008 11:30 PM
In many areas, the rule is public lake not for private use. In other words, unless you own the lake by yourself, you may not be allowed to drop geo loops in. If the answer is no, then you might consider open loop if water quality is good. Joe

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