For Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a Glossary of terms please click here

For a Government of Canada Guide to Heat Pumps click here

Water to Air & Water to Water Infloor Geothermal

            Water to Air (Forced Air)                      Water to Water (Radiant Floor Heating) 

NextEnergy has developed a ‘Best of Both Worlds’ approach that combines the advanced features of our Forced Air systems with our Water to Water geothermal infloor heating to provide excellent comfort and performance for the entire structure. By packaging a ‘cooling load sized’ Forced Air unit with a Water to Water radiant floor unit, we supply a system that provides the best warm/cool air distribution available, with the added function of heating your floor and any other areas where radiant heating is preferred.

The efficiencies and capacities of a geothermal system increase dramatically when the above functions are added in. In this way a NextEnergy system can meet your needs without the complexity and cost associated with triple function equipment. Our type of system readily lends itself to many optional features such as domestic hot water or pool and spa heating without complicated controls or a difficult installation.

How do Geothermal Systems Work?

Half of the energy from the sun that hits the earth every day is absorbed by the ground.

The result is that the ground remains at a constant temperature of between 10 and 15 Degrees C all year round at a depth of five to six feet below the surface. Our system is able to capture this energy and put it to use. A geothermal system consists of a heat pump, generally located in the basement of a house, which is connected to a Ground Loop that is buried in the earth. The geothermal unit transfers the heat from a water and food grade ethanol solution circulating through the pipes in the ground to air that is drawn through the unit and blows the warm air around the house using standard air ducts.

Alternatively, the heat is distributed through pipes containing water for in-floor heating.  In the summer, the process reverses.  Heat is taken from the air in the house and put in the ground, which is now cooler than the air outside, providing air conditioning and de-humidification for your home.

There are several options when it comes to loops, depending on the characteristics of your property (see illustrations below);

Horizontal Loop – a series of trenches 2 ft wide x 5ft deep x 300ft long (or equivalent) and require 600 ft of pipe per trench. An average home would require 4 trenches and 2400 ft of pipe (generally speaking property size must be 1 ½ acres or larger to accommodate this type of loop).

•  
• Vertical Loop – a series of boreholes would be drilled to a depth of
• 150 ft – 180 ft. An average home would require 4 boreholes
• (generally speaking most city lots will accomodate this type of loop).

Pond Loop – a series of coiled pipe loops would be installed in a pond or lake on your property (The water must be a minimum of 8 ft deep with a surface area of at least 15000 square feet +/- for this type of loop).

Open Loop – a supply and discharge well system takes water out of one well circulating through the geothermal unit and discharges it into a second well on your property. Conditions are strict for this system. Open loop systems represent a small fraction of the systems in place in Ontario.

Operating cost based on 2004 energy prices and typical 2000 sq/ft. Ontario home with 4 occupants.