I am in the final stages of design for a new home in the Virgin Islands. It will be an ICF home, with an ICF roof. I am seeking information on ways to cool this home that will be green and use reduced amounts of energy.
 
There isn't a need for any heating beyond hot water (year round), swimming pool (about 9 months of the year) and hot tub portion of pool (year round but only on demand). The ground is rocks, boulders and a clay like earth, wells are are not an option, but some trenches could be dug at foundation time for loops. I do not know if these loops can be buried under the house or if they need to be accessible, nor how large they need to be to act as efficient heat exchangers.

Our electrical costs here in the VI are the highest in the nation. Any input is appreciated. Thank You.

If the house isn't too big, an efficient air to air unit would probably be best.Savings and payback on a super insulated house would small on a reasonably sized building. I lived on St. Croix in the 60's and never felt the need for AC but we had a breeze off the ocean almost all of the time.

I don't know the island climate, but if the cooling season is short and mild payback on a geo system would be quite long.

Conventional air conditioners are heat pumps themselves so a high SEER air to air unit, will rival the EER of a geo system. Pool heating with air or ground source heat pump may be worth looking at depending on how high the disparity of gas vs electric rates.
Good luck,
joe

Consider solar options.

Regards, Masoud

I don't know much about pools but if I ever install one I'll be looking for ways to insulate between it and the ground. A solar cover makes a huge difference, especially if the air is dry or breezy.

If electricity is very very expensive, look into whether net metering applies and what the payback would be for photovoltaic.

If there are times when house needs AC and pool needs heat, there are ways to do both at the same time - search for posts by 'Brock' here.

Ground temps may be so high so as to make geo less efficient than in other locales.