HVAC questions
I am renovating a 4 story 2 family brownstown in Prospect Heights. I would like to look at putting a geothermal heating/cooling system in for the building. As anyone ever heard of this being done in Brooklyn and can recommend anyone you might be able to do this work? I have been talking to someone…
I am renovating a 4 story 2 family brownstown in Prospect Heights. I would like to look at putting a geothermal heating/cooling system in for the building. As anyone ever heard of this being done in Brooklyn and can recommend anyone you might be able to do this work?
I have been talking to someone in Yonkers who has done geothermal installations outside the city, but I would like to tlak someone who has experience in NYC.
Second question: can someone recommend a good HVAC contracotr with experience with high velocity A/C systems? The A/C component of the goethermal system could be high velocity system.
Thanks
how do you wire a thermostat using a heat pump with a oil furnace as the second stage heat?
is ther a wiring kit for this? thanks
A geothermal system was installed for a Fort Greene townhouse within the last 2 years, I believe. You could Google for the installer. They had to drill in the little front yard.
Unfortunately the driller today me today that they cannot do the wells. The space is too tight and the wells need to be 20′ apart. I am not sure that the distance is accurate.
Their are some NYSERDA certified contractors who will oversee the installation of the geothermal system. I am talking to a guy out of White Plains. Not sure if I would recommend him yet. He has not been too responsive yet.
Geothermal is compatible with hydronic radiator. The heat exchanger can heat up water enough to heat radiators or so I am told.
Mind sharing the name of the driller? Will they install the heating system, too? And is it compatible with radiators? Most of what I’ve seen online is forced air, and who has room for ductwork?
Thanks for the responses.
The issue is definitely where to put the well holes and how deep they have to go. I am currently being told that I can use an open well system that circulates water from a well into heat exchanger located in the building. Apparently the water table in Brooklyn is quite close to the surface maybe as close at 15 ft so theoretically you would not have to drill that deep to get enough of a water flow.
I would like to drill right in front of the building next to the staircase leading to the parlor floor. I have talked to a driller who thinks that he can get the rig in there. The main question is how far apart the 2 wells need to be.
If you are interested in looking at information on geothermal, look at NYSERDA’s site. They have a good pdf document on geothermal systems including the ones installed in NY (city and state).
Given the cost of heating with oil or gas, I think geothermal could really be the way to go from strictly an economic perspective regardless of the other environmental benefits (which are important to me as well).
What kinds of monthly costs are people facing this year for heat?
I’ve seen a lot written on successfully using geothermal in very cold climates (Minnesota), other articles on warmer places (California). What is the issue with our area? Can you point me toward articles on the problems of geothermal in the northeast?
If you’ve done your homework on geothermal space heating, you probably already know that it doesn’t work well in our climate. There has been a great deal of effort recently in trying to find a remedy to this problem and I understand that the systems are already being fitted in larger buildings where alternate or secondary heat sources are economically installed as well.
Call Pratt Area Community Council
718-522-2613
They recently did a Green Building seminar with lots of info on alternnative energy.
Or try Dean Zais, NYSERDA Energy Smart Outreach Coordinator 718-399-4416.
They should be able to give you some leads. Small-space geothermal projects are starting to gain popularity in urban areas.
In a casual conversation with an architect (in other words, I don’t have any details), he mentioned someone doing it, and I think it was in Brooklyn. If I remember correctly, he said that they had to drill down about a mile, and that drilling the hole cost about $20K.