Category: Solar & Ground Source Thermal Systems

• Poss Residence, Erie CO – GSHP   9 TONS
• Hines Residence, Longmont, CO – GSHP   7 TONS
• The “Tree House”, Boulder, CO – GSHP  25 TONS

• Miller Residence – GSHP 10 TONS
• Yellow Barn – GSHP 10 TONS
• Invision – GSHP  14 TONS
• Imagine! – GSHP  10 TONS
• Palmquist Residence – GSHP  17 TONS
• Greenwood Wildlife Rehab. Sanct. –  GSHP  11 TONS

The Sheridan Inn was constructed in 1894 by Buffalo Bill Cody and the Chicago Quincy and Burlington Railroad.  It is a National Registered Historic Building.  The Hotel is being restored.  The mechanical systems are powered by a geothermal system.  Heat pumps are located in each of the guest rooms, and all of the domestic hot water for the domestic uses, kitchen and laundry are heated by the geothermal system.  The total tonnage is approximately 75 tons.

This 2500 square foot home has a 3-1/2-ton geothermal system.   The heat exchange field consists of 5 boreholes of 200-foot depth each.  An in-floor hydronic radiant heating system is used throughout.  Two fan-coil units provide cooling in the summer.

The domestic hot water is heated with a two-panel active solar system.  This is further backed up with the de-superheater of the heat pump, the heat pump itself, and the house boiler (if ever used) resulting in unlimited amounts of hot water.

The residence is a remodeled 1894 one-room schoolhouse that also incorporates passive solar design.

An 8-ton futuristic home located in the wilderness near Vernal, Utah.  The geo-thermal heat pump system is fed by underground springs that provide the heating and cooling systems.  The house is heated and cooled with radiant floor and ceiling systems.

This historic School built in the 1920’s is undergoing a complete retrofit of the mechanical systems.  Individual ground source heat pumps will be installed in each classroom.  The bore field has been designed for the future addition of the Cafeteria, Gymnasium and the Auditorium.  The total capacity of the project is 113 tons.

This 10,000 square foot residence has a 25-ton ground source heat pump system for heating and cooling.  In addition there is a separate 5-ton dedicated domestic hot water heat pump system.  The ground loop consists of a series vertical boreholes for the ground heat exchange.

The heating system consists of 21 separate zones of in-floor hydronic radiant heating.  The radiant floor heat also functions as a radiant floor cooling system in the warmer months.  There are 7 separate fancoil units that provide additional heating and cooling. Simultaneous heating and cooling can occur in separate zones as required.

A snow melt system was designed for approximately 1,500 square feet of driveway.  A 98% efficient condensing boiler serves the snow melt system and backs up the entire geo thermal system.  This boiler also backs up the domestic hot water system resulting in unlimited amounts of hot water draw.

Other items heated by the geo-thermal system include a custom outdoor hot tub with cold plunge pool, and a year round Koa fishpond.

The Shinji Shumeikai Institute is located at 8200 feet in the southern Colorado Rocky Mountains.  The 24-acre facility currently consists of:

• 3840 sq. ft. Sanctuary Building
• 2870 sq. ft. Food Service and Dining Building
• 1290 sq. ft. Caretaker’s Building
• 1290 sq. ft. Garage and Maintenance Building
• 5240 sq. ft. Office and Gift Pavilion

The buildings are constructed of energy efficient materials including straw-bale construction, low-E fenestration, photovoltaics, and passive solar.

Active solar systems are used to heat the buildings.  The closed systems heat hydronic radiant floors and coils used to temper the outside air.  Domestic hot water is also heated with the solar systems.  High efficiency boilers are used for backup when the sun is not shining.  Direct digital controls are used to tie the facility together.  All of the control points come to a central location and are used for temperature adjustment and trouble-shooting using the color graphic interfaces.

Recipient of the 2002 Colorado Renewable Energy Society award, commercial buildings category.

This 14,000 square foot residence has a 35-ton ground source heat pump system for heating and cooling.  In addition there is a separate 5-ton dedicated domestic hot water heat pump system.  The ground loop consists of 26,000 feet of “slinky” loops installed in a field 7 feet below the finished grade.

The heating system consists of 35 separate zones of in-floor hydronic radiant heating.  Three separate water temperatures are maintained on an outside air temperature setback control system.  There are 16 separate cooling zones using fancoil units.  These fan coils also serve to boost the heating when required.  Simultaneous heating and cooling can occur in separate zones as required.

A snow melt system was designed for approximately 6,000 square feet of driveways, walkways, and patios.  The system is heated with a 98% efficient Buderus condensing boiler.  This boiler also backs up the domestic hot water system resulting in unlimited amounts of hot water draw.

The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless is a 30,000 square foot facility that is capable of housing approximately 180 individuals.  The 80-ton heating and cooling load is served by a ground source heat pump system.  The underground heat exchange field consists of a series of 30 vertical boreholes 250 feet deep each.

The water is circulated through the bore field and then through the building serving 38 individual heat pumps.  Each heat pump is capable of heating or cooling at any time of the year.  An air to air heat exchanger is used to provide fresh air into the facility and to exhaust the common areas.  The air is additionally tempered by evaporative cooling and ground source heating.

A 15-ton heat pump is dedicated for the domestic hot water system.  Storage tanks hold 3500 gallons of water that the heat pump system heats throughout the day.  This two-temperature water (120F and 140F) is used for the large shower rooms and the full service kitchen.

A direct digital control system is used to control the ground source heat pump system and the remaining HVAC systems.

Recipient of the Northern Colorado AIA Honor Award, 2004