Presentation Title:
Lessons Learned from Geo-Exchange System Constructions
Track F: Building Performance
Session F3: Building Envelopes and Systems
Day 3 9:00 am
Speaker(s):
Abstract:
A geo-exchange system has been incorporated into our recent building construction projects as a sustainable energy source.
Geo-exchange systems have advantages over conventional fuel-driven heating and cooling systems because they reduce overall operating and maintenance costs, increase safety, improve indoor air quality and comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions even though it requires upfront capital costs for installation.
Geotechnical considerations on the optimized geo-exchange system design include groundwater levels, bedrock depths, available land space, ground temperature, characteristics of in-situ soils and rocks including thermal conductivity values, etc.
Lessons learned from the geo-exchange system design, procurement, and construction include: coordinating scope of works between geotechnical and mechanical subcontractors; implementing the geothermal scope in construction; evaluating water quality and aquifer zones; confirming locations of existing underground utilities and tracking the geothermal well piping systems; providing factors of safety with the well capacities to meet/exceed the expected loads of the HVAC system; and performance of thermal conductivity testing or underground water quality testing in the pre-construction phase.
