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Geothermal Information
Nottawasaga Mechanical has been installing Geothermal/Ground Source Heat Pumps since 1988. We have over 1000 installations within our service area. These installations include both commercial and residential applications. We do both custom new construction and retrofits. All of our technicians are licensed and factory trained directly from WaterFurnace. Each Technician has been trained in either loop design, loop fusion, service, installation or all 4 areas. We are a CGC accredited contractor which means we are able to get you the grant money you deserve. A contractor who is not CGC certified cannot submit the proper documentation for you to receive grant money. Nottawasaga Mechanical was the first contractor in Canada to submit paperwork, for one of our customers, to receive this grant money. Click here to view the article published by the Geo Connexion about our submission.
Information given to us directly from WaterFurnace.
WaterFurnace Products (click on product to view)
Envision Series - Forced air with hot water assist.
Synergy 3D - Forced air, hydronic heating and domestic hot water.
EW Series - Hydronic heating, snow melt.
Polyethylene Pipe - The pipe used for ground loop applications.
Environol - The product used to fill your ground loop.
1. Why Geothermal?
Providing you with an unheard of 400% efficiency, WaterFurnace systems deliver $4 of free earth energy for every $1 of electrical energy used. The high efficiency of this system gives you incredible energy savings, which usually more than offsets any
 additional installation costs within the first five years. WaterFurnace systems provide consistent and comfortable heating and cooling. The optional zone control system lets you control the temperature in four different areas of your home. The WaterFurnace reputation for reliability has been earned by using only the highest-quality components, design and workmanship. WaterFurnace systems do not require noisy outdoor units that create unsightly additions to your home’s appearance. There is no combustion, flames or fumes and no chance of carbon-monoxide poisoning because natural gas, propane or oil are not required to operate a WaterFurnace unit. North Americans everywhere are feeling it, not only the pinch at the pump, but also the strain of monthly utility bills. That's a big reason why more and more homeowners are turning to geothermal systems like those from WaterFurnace as a means of reducing the high cost of their energy bills. With 70 per cent of a home's total energy bill resulting from the costs of heating, cooling and hot water, the use of geothermal energy not only increases the energy efficiency of a home, but also significantly reduces energy bills. In addition, geothermal has been declared the most environmentally friendly, cost-effective and energy-efficient heating and cooling technology available by the Environmental Protection Agency. Geothermal systems use the solar energy that is stored year-round just beneath the earth's surface. This energy is free, unlimited, 100% renewable and increases the energy efficiency of heating, cooling and hot water systems in a home in a proven cost-effective way while emitting absolutely no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or other harmful greenhouse gases.
2. How does it work? The heating process involves extracting heat energy from the ground, and moving it into the building. Transferring the heat from the earth to the building involves a cycle of evaporation, compression, condensation and expansion.
A refrigerant is used as the heat transfer medium. The heating cycle starts as cold, liquid refrigerant passes through a water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and absorbs heat from the low temperature source (earth loop fluid or well water). The refrigerant evaporates into a gas as heat is absorbed.
The gaseous refrigerant passes through a compressor where the refrigerant is pressurized, raising its temperature to over 180° F. The hot gas then circulates through a refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger where heat is removed as the cooler return air passes over it. Now heated, this warm air is delivered into the building by way of the blower and the duct system. Upon releasing its heat energy into the air, the refrigerant returns to the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger where the process is repeated continuously during the heating process. A by-product of the heating function is the production of hot water that is delivered to the water heater by way of a small pump.
The cooling process involves the extraction of heat energy from the air in the building and moving it into the earth. Transferring heat from the air in the building to the earth involves a cycle of expansion, condensation, compression, condensation and evaporation. A refrigerant is used as the heat transfer medium.
The cooling cycle starts as the compressor delivers refrigerant to the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. Heat from the refrigerant is absorbed by (rejected into) the low temperature source (earth loop fluid or well water) resulting in the refrigerant turning cold. The cold refrigerant then passes through a refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger. As warm, humid air from the return air duct system is passed over the cold air coil, the air is cooled and dehumidified, then returned into the building, cooling the space. The heat from the warm air that returns to the unit is absorbed by the cold refrigerant, turning the refrigerant into a hot gas. The hot refrigerant is returned to the compressor where the process is repeated continuously during the cooling process. A portion of the heat returning to the compressor (from the hot return air) is diverted to another refrigerant circuit that generates hot water and delivers it to the water heater by way of a small pump.
3. Rebates and Savings Local municipalities have also introduced their own incentives. Be sure to check with your local city or township to stay up to date.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced a $150 million rebate program. This rebate program, under the Home Energy Retrofit Program, gives incentives to Ontarians to "go green" at home through:
***AS OF MARCH 31, 2010 ALL ECOENERGY PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR GRANT MONEY IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD AN ENERGY AUDIT PERFORMED ON YOUR HOME OR IF YOU HAVE ONE SCHEDULED. NO NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR AUDITS WILL BE TAKEN. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE! Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering a new residential energy efficiency assessment service to owners of single family homes including, detached, semi-detached, and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) that are no more than three storeys high. Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, property owners can qualify for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, and reducing their home's impact on the environment. You can get up to $4,375 in rebates for Geothermal. Click here for more info!
***AS OF MARCH 31, 2010 ALL ECOENERGY PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR GRANT MONEY IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD AN ENERGY AUDIT PERFORMED ON YOUR HOME OR IF YOU HAVE ONE SCHEDULED. NO NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR AUDITS WILL BE TAKEN. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE! The Ontario Power Authority’s Cool Savings Rebate Program provides you with the opportunity to help do your part to reduce Ontario’s electricity consumption, while saving money. The Ontario Power Authority will rebate up to $550 for the installation of a retrofit EnergyStar geothermal system. Many WaterFurnace units meet the energy requirements. Click here for more info
If you were given the choice of burning money or saving money,which would you choose? The question may sound crazy, but that’s what each homeowner faces when deciding whether or not to invest in Geothermal. Because a Geothermal system tends to have a higher installation cost than most conventional systems, many homeowners view it as an expensive system. But this is only half of the picture. As a homeowner, consider more than the initial investment when purchasing a new system: consider the monthly energy costs and the annual maintenance costs. You may find that a fossil fuel furnace will cause you to burn money rather than save it, and a conventional air conditioner will cause you to waste energy rather than conserve it. When selecting a system, always consider the payback, efficiency, cash flow, operating costs and system life-span. System payback is how long it takes to recover in energy savings the difference in the costs between geothermal and conventional systems. On average, the initial cost of installing a geothermal system can be recovered within three to five years. A WaterFurnace dealer or electric utility representative can help you figure your payback on a geothermal investment. Because geothermal systems deliver three or four units of energy to the home for every unit of electrical energy used to power the system, they rank first in energy efficiency and long-term operational savings. Geothermal systems can be used in new and retrofit applications, but as a new home buyer, you are an especially good candidate for a geothermal system. The initial cost of the geothermal system can usually be tied into your monthly mortgage payment, because you are already making a long-term investment in new construction. The monthly savings from the system easily covers the additional amount added to your mortgage payment, so you are creating a positive cash flow right away! Another consideration is total heating, cooling and domestic hot water operating costs. The geothermal system is the total comfort system with the lowest overall cost. With most conventional systems, overall operating costs are based on the efficiency of more than one system - a fossil fuel furnace, central air conditioner and a water heater. With a geothermal system, all operations are handled by one system, assuring that efficiency and savings are achieved in all areas. In addition, system maintenance and life span should not be overlooked. For instance, conventional systems frequently require regular maintenance for each unit - the furnace, the air conditioner and the water heater. However, a WaterFurnace Geothermal system requires little or no maintenance beyond periodic checks and filter changes. When faced with the purchase of a new heating, cooling and water heating system, you have two choices: either burn money with a conventional system or save it with a geothermal system. You may find the cost of a geothermal system is just a phone call away!
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