As a research partner with the University of Wollongong, our partnership is helping highlight the importance of optimising the design and operational controls of geoexchange systems to enhance the energy and cost savings when applying geoexchange in homes and businesses.
The University’s PhD student Su Huang has developed a way of determining the optimum set up and operation for ground source heat pump systems.
Su said “We want to make sustainable energy production through these systems attractive to people so it’s important to find the optimum design that provides as much energy savings as possible to offset those upfront costs.”
The test system installed at the University’s SBRC, supplied by GeoExchange Australia as a research partner, delivered a 9.5 per cent overall system cost saving, including system installation cost and 20-year operating costs.
This project has been a huge success.
Useful links:
- University of Wollongong’s summary of the research
- Getting to the Source of Energy Efficient Living by technology.org
- The research was published recently in the journal Energy and Buildings
- Further information and details of our involvement, click here
Photo source: University of Wollongong
Water flowing through pipes buried underground exchange heat with the soil, providing heating and cooling year round at SBRC.