Understanding Geothermal Energy

Over the years geothermal energy has been used in some countries for residential applications including cooking and heating purposes. In short and simple words, geothermal is the energy derived from the earth’s internal heat.

The rock and fluids beneath the Earth’s crust contain this thermal energy. This energy can be available in shallow ground and several miles below the surface as well as the extremely hot molten rock known as magma.

What is the use of geothermal energy?

The underground reservoirs of hot water and steam are tapped for the generation of electricity to heat and cool the buildings directly. A geothermal system makes the use of the constant temperature of upper three meters of the earth’s surface for heating up a home during winter. However, the heat pump system extracts heat from the building and transfers back to the relatively cooler ground during summer.

The geothermal water available deeper in the earth is appropriate for the direct heating of offices and homes or growing plants in the greenhouses. In fact, some of the U.S. cities use piping for geothermal hot water to come under roads and sidewalks in order to melt snow.

How geothermal energy is produced?

Geothermal generated electricity is produced from wells and sometimes a mile (1.6 kilometers) deep or more, drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water that drives turbines connected to electricity generators.

What are the types of geothermal plants?

There are three types of geothermal power plants like dry steam, binary and flash. Dry steam geothermal plants are the oldest technology that takes steam out of the fractures in the ground. They use it to drive a turbine directly.

Flash plants pull deep and high pressure hot water into cooler and low pressure water. The steam produced is utilized to drive the turbine. In the binary geothermal plants, the hot water is passed through a secondary fluid that has much lower boiling point than water. This makes the secondary fluid turning to vapor that drives a turbine. Most geothermal power plants will be binary plants in the future.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

First, let’s talk about the advantages of geothermal energy.

Low Carbon Footprint –

Without burning fossil fuels like coal, gas or oil, the geothermal energy can be extracted. It can produce only one-sixth of the carbon dioxide – which is something that a relatively clean natural-gas fueled power plant produces.

No Emissions and Round the Clock Availability –

Essentially, binary power plants don’t release harmful emissions. Unlike wind and solar energy, geothermal energy is available any time, i.e. 365 days in a year.

Cost Savings –

The geothermal systems are relatively competitive and you will get savings from direct use. In fact, you will get as much as 80 percent savings over fossil fuels.

Now it’s time to discuss about the disadvantages of geothermal energy.

Bad Impact on Environment –

The geothermal systems have some environmental problems. They release hydrogen sulfide, the gas with rotten egg like smells at low concentrations.

Disposal of Geothermal Fluids –

Some of the geothermal fluids may have specifically low level of toxic materials. However, the geothermal sites are able to provide heat for your needs; but eventually in specific locations they may cool down.

Bottom Line –

When it comes to buying geothermal systems, you should look no further than 123 Zero Energy. Our geothermal heat pumps take advantage of the sun likewise any other solar system. All of our geothermal kits harvest the solar energy, absorbed by earth during the year. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.123zeroenergy.com/sizing-geothermal-system.html.

What to Know About Geothermal Heating Systems?

When it comes to choosing systems for heating and cooling purposes, consumers are flooded with choices. One option is right below your feet – taking advantage of earth’s consistent underground temperature nearly 30 feet below the earth surface.

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are also known as ground source heat pumps. They can heat, cool and even supply hot water to a home by transferring heat to or from the group. The geothermal heating systems have been keeping consumers comfortable for over 50 years and can reduce energy bills by up to 65% as compared to traditionally available HVAC units.

So, if you’re investing in a GHP system for your home or business, here are a few important things you should know beforehand:

Useful in any climate –

Geothermal heat pumps can be able to operate in any climate – both hot and cold with the earth’s consistent ground temperature that ranges from 45° to 75° F depending on the location. However, millions of geothermal heat pumps are heating and cooling homes and businesses from all around the world including the all 50 US states.

Open and closed loop systems –

You have several options to choose from, when it comes to considering geothermal heating systems including closed or open loop designs. Around 85% of GHPs in the United States makes the use of ground heat exchangers for fluid circulation by using a closed loop design.

The pipes in these systems are generally made of plastic tubing and are horizontally buried up to 6 feet deep or vertically up to 600 feet deep. The ground heat exchanger design can differ depending on the climate, soil condition, land availability, ground water accessibility or the surface water bodies and local on-site installation costs.

Durability –

Geothermal heating systems are considered as the long term investment. They are specifically built to last for long and have extremely long life spans than others. The GHP indoor components i.e. the heat pump, are expected to get around 25 years and the ground loops have 50 plus years life.

Though the cost of installation can be around several times more expensive, GHPs are about 65% more efficient than the traditionally designed HVAC units. They can pay back themselves over time in terms of energy savings, which is typically within 10 years.

Reduce the peak electricity demands and carbon emissions 

As discussed above, the GHPs are more efficient systems than traditional HVACs and can help you lessen the load on the electric grid. This is really helpful during summer for peak demands. Additionally, they can help you minimize the carbon emissions because of their higher efficiency.

So, what’s next? 

Now seas are rising, global heat records are falling and the storms are becoming more and more devastating day by day. The reality of climate change has been never clearer. Thee clean energy solutions like wind and solar energy are getting more competitive, batteries getting better and buildings as well as technologies becoming more efficient every year.

Are you interested in taking the next step? Prepared enough to make a great difference for the future of your planet? Contact 123 Zero Energy today and let us help you plan through the geothermal heating systems!

Why Do You Buy Northern Lights Solar Water Heating Kit for Home?

Are you looking for a perfect way to use solar energy? What better way to do it than solar water heaters? Using advanced vacuum tube collectors, a solar heating system can operate in minus 40 temperatures.

The Northern Lights solar water heaters utilize a special glycol heating fluid that can work well in arctic temperatures and even high temperatures of up to 480F. The solar collectors capture the heat that move into a solar water tank which features an internal heat exchanger, present at the bottom of the tank.

The heat energy is transferred indirectly to the house for using hot water. If the water remains unused, it will be stored in the highly insulated tank. A solar differential controller and a pump properly control the entire heating loop. The controller helps in maximizing your system performance while turning on or shutting down the pump when required.

Buying Solar Water Heater for Domestic Use

The Northern Lights solar water heating system comes with a 4.5 KW backup heating element, which is present in the middle of the storage tank. This will allow the tank to deliver hot water even when the sun is not shining.

When it comes to buying this solar water heater, please remember that every home is unique and its requirements. You should consider the size of your house, the surrounding climate condition and its insulation value while choosing a right solar heater.

The larger solar water heating system needs more storage. If you live in the Northern climates, it’s highly recommended to have a 1 x 30 tube vacuum collector for every 300 square feet. When you buy solar water heater in warmer climates, you should consider 1 x 20 tube vacuum collector for every 400 square feet.

The size of storage tank depends on the number of solar collectors. Most storage tanks are available in sizes like 50, 80, and 119 gallons. If you have larger homes, you should add multiple storage tanks and run them in parallel fashion. It’s recommended to have minimum 40 gallons per 30 tube collectors; therefore a three collectors system will need storage of 120 gallons.

The Special Features of Solar Water Heaters

• 1” NPT connections
• Two magnesium anodes and factory-installed brass drain valve
• Internal temperature probes for top and bottom tank temperature
• Factory-installed T&P valve precision-manufactured tank, made from superior-quality steel offering enormous strength and durability assurance
• 2” Non-CFC zero ozone depleting foam insulation
• 4.5 KW electric element with temperature control ability
• G-Glass porcelain fused to steel, impervious to caustics and chlorine, the perfect water vessel

Bottom Line –

If you want to know more about the operation and working principle of solar water heaters, please contact 123 Zero Energy at +1-800-317-9054. We will get back to you as soon as possible and rest assured that you’ll have a superior-quality purchase for your home!

How Do You Install Ground Loop of Geothermal System?

Are you planning to buy DIY geothermal system? If so, then considering horizontal ground loop installation makes perfect sense. All you need to do is to hire a back hoe featuring a 36” bucket for a slinky loop. Or you can rent a chain trencher to deliver single line trenches for the ground loops.

When it comes to making the purchase of geothermal systems in the northern USA and in Canada, you will be provided with 800 feet coils per each loop by 123 Zero Energy. But in the southern climates, you will get 600 feet of piping.

However, you can consider vertical loops; but you will have to hire a drilling company for boring holes as required. Well loop or open loop is quite easy and very cost-effective alternative for you, if you want to go for DIY installation. Both of the loops can deliver the best performance in the long run.

Again if you reside on a lake, a lake loop may be good; but more number of municipalities are restricting the use of lake loops. It’s because of their potentially hazardous impact to the environment as they can develop a leak or a pipe crack. You can contact 123 Zero Energy to discuss about the options available for DIY geothermal system installation.

Understanding the Sizing of Geothermal System –

The size of a geothermal system is one loop for every ton. If you have any doubt, you can go for bigger size. The more contact the geothermal system lines have with the earth, the better the heat quality transfer will be.

A premier geothermal kit supplier, 123 Zero Energy uses larger diameter of piping like the 1” high density poly-ethylene piping. The use of larger diameter ensures more surface area of contact and better heat transfer.

Installing Ground Loops of a Geothermal System –

Start the installation process with mapping out your property by taking measurements of the trench distances. Please remember that, you will have to consider the additional supply and return piping you will need for the connection inside the house.

You should never splice a loop. If you need larger loops, you should contact 123 Zero Energy and they can supply you with 1000 ft piping roles.

In fact, you should contact your utility companies to know the places where the buried gas, water and gas lines are located. Once you’ve marked out the places, you need to hire a professional back hoe operator for digging your trenches effortlessly.

You have to maintain minimum distance of 6 feet to make sure you are below the frost line. In some of the northern areas, maintaining 8 feet ensures that you are below the frost line. After all, an experienced back hoe operator in your area must be familiar with the frost levels in your geographical area and will suggest you better options for your needs.

Once the digging of trenches is done, you need to align the bottom with 6” of sand before laying down your piping. This will help you optimal heat transfer and make sure that there are not air voids around the piping.

In addition to, the presence of sand will protect the piping from sharp rocks that may be found in the trench and could damage or punch the lines possibly. Once it’s done, you should start filling the trenches with 6”-12” of sand.

You will have to wet the sand to ensure that sand fills tightly around the poly-ethylene piping. At the end, you can fill the loops with clay and soil that you’d removed. Make sure that the ground is completely compacted to remove the air voids if there’s any.

Bottom Line –

Now you’ve understood how installing the ground loops of geothermal kit, should be done. If you want to learn more about geothermal systems, please contact 123 Zero Energy on +1 800 317 9054. We will get back to you as soon as possible!

Storage Options for Solar On Grid Systems

Solar on grid systems means the solar systems are tied to local utility grid. They are on high demand for good reasons. However, storage is important aspect of solar on grid systems. There are three different ways you can consider to store the solar energy you produce – DC batteries, hot water tanks and on grid or Net Metering. Please check out this post and understand better about storage options for solar on grid systems:

DC Batteries

Earlier, most solar consumers stored the solar energy in batteries and used this energy when required. This type of system is known as an off grid solar PV system and were popular amongst all consumers.

However, batteries are not the right solution and come with costs that add to the cost of an off grid solar system. They have a useful shelf life and if improperly managed, it can be as short as 2-3 year and have huge capital costs. In fact, these batteries need special designed charge controller in order to maintain and extend the battery life.

Most of the modern world is connected to the grid whereas off grid systems are used in the remote locations that don’t have access to grid power. This means, batteries are still popular for solar storage purposes. Now there’s a huge availability of lithium and salt water batteries with extensive lifecycle and reduced cost of ownership. Battery backup solar systems are perfect where the grid is prone to outages.

Hot Water

Earlier, hot water tanks were utilized as a dump zone for excessive PV production when the batteries were fully charged. But recently, Solar PV Hot Water has become its own use than just a dump zone and can deliver great returns on investment by heating hot water.

Solar thermal systems have been considered as the leader in this field; but the immense reduction on cost and introduction of CyboInverter has given some competition to solar thermal system. You can hook a solar array directly to a hot water heater and supply all your hot water requirements with very little cost and free storage. Even, it’s estimated that hot water heating consumes around 20-25% of the typical household energy. Solar PV water tanks may provide great system paybacks.

Net Metering

Instead of storing energy, you can lend the extra energy to other like lending your lawn mower to neighbor. Whenever you need it back, it will be right there for your use. Now there’s an availability of smart grids and most utility companies are capable of accepting anyone’s energy and have providing Net Metering or On Grid Solar PV Systems.

These systems don’t use any battery and rather utilize a DC inverter that converts the electricity to AC. Now the home can use this energy; but if it has surplus, the energy starts flowing from the outside the house to the grid. Please remember that, all of the 52 US states and all provinces throughout Canada have Net Metering options that are available to use for businesses and consumers.

Bottom Line –

Now you might have understood the storage options available for solar on grid systems. To know more about the solar on grid systems, please contact 123 Zero Energy at https://www.123zeroenergy.com/how-it-works/solar-pv-info.html.

Understanding Solar Thermal Kits and Packages

Solar thermal technology is a preferable type of renewable energy that most homeowners can take proper advantage of. But, solar thermal system differs from solar PV. This utilizes the sun to heat liquid like water that you can use in homes and businesses. However, solar panels are used to collect solar rays and convert them into heat energy for hot water predominantly or less frequently, space heating purposes. 

The Significance of Solar Thermal Systems 

Lower Utility Bills – 

Solar thermal systems can minimize your high energy costs. This means, there’s no requirement of fossil fuels and the price of fossil fuels is high. You should think about the free energy you can get from the sun. In addition to, RHI – Renewable Heat Incentive payments makes sure that you make more money on the heat your solar thermal kits produce. 

Renewable –

The sun and obviously the solar energy won’t run out in your lifetime. This means, the power the system collects from it is renewable and sustainable. Solar thermal energy can be used as long as you have the sun and you don’t have to make payment for your use. 

Reduce Carbon Footprint –

When you use solar, you will minimize your carbon footprint and help towards the environment. Every little project can make a great difference, when it comes to global warming. Solar thermal is a kind on your environment and doesn’t produce any pollutants. 

The Main Features in a Solar Thermal System 

Certainly, you might consider what makes a solar thermal system. The most important part of the solar thermal system is the solar collectors. The tube collectors are the glass pipes coated in a special way, used to collect solar energy. 

These pipes use a special type of antifreeze, which isn’t considered harmful to the surrounding environment. There are flat plate collectors, thin flat boxes with small tubes filled with liquid and antifreeze the thin boxes faces the sun to collect the energy and seems a little like solar PV panels. 

The solar thermal kit comprises of a heat exchanger for hot transfer and a storage tank. The water tank is able to hold the water. There’s a thermal controller, which allows you monitor and control the system. There are variations with different systems and collectors as well as tanks, to be used depending on your requirements. Here are some of the popular solar thermal systems:

Evacuate Tube Solar Thermal Kit –This thermal kit is the most efficient system, offering around 70% efficiency. 

Flat Plate Solar Thermal System – It’s a very commonly used system, which is slightly less efficient, but cheaper. 

Thermodynamic Panels – These are relatively new technology-driven systems and operate slight differently than others; but effortlessly. These are heat pumps; but in flat panel form. 

How to Know Whether Your Home is Right for Solar Thermal Installation?

If you want to know whether your home is suitable for your solar thermal kit, this depends on the way it faces and where you’re located and the things like shading. Your roof will be perfectly-suited to solar installation, if it faces south direction; they can still work but may be less efficient especially when it faces different directions. It’s quite important to ensure that your roof is un-shaded by tall trees or buildings. 

Bottom Line –

When thinking about solar thermal kits and packages, you should no further than 123 Zero Energy. We have the best solar thermal systems and packages for the best interests and requirements of clients. For more information about our systems and their specifications, please browse our website at https://www.123zeroenergy.com/pricing/solar-thermal.html.

Why Do You Install Solar Thermal Systems?

In the times of rising energy and heating costs and the resource scarcity of fossil fuels, the power of the sun is providing a key and above all low cost energy source. Solar systems like the solar thermal systems are becoming increasingly popular nowadays. Solar thermal packages come with a pump circulating solar fluid – water, saline or other fluids through the solar collectors and deliver heat to a water storage tank. 

When homeowners require hot water, the solar heated water takes the precedence and either eliminates or reduces the energy required by the boiler to heat water. This is how solar thermal system minimizes energy bills, as generating heat for water consumes more energy. The main use of a solar thermal kit is to deliver hot water through the use of solar technology. 

Generally, solar thermal systems utilize sunlight for heat storage in solar collectors that is fed into the heating system through pipes when required. The heat obtain is thus utilized to heat water or to support in heating. 

Generally, they minimize carbon-dioxide emissions and are emission-free, clean and odorless. The fossil fuel consumption as heating oil and natural gas is reduced and energy costs are minimized. Technologies like solar thermal systems are pioneering for the construction industry. 

Since the maintenance of buildings need over 40 percent of the solar energy, it’s important to cover the energy demand with renewable energies. Using the solar systems like solar thermal systems and energy-efficient construction, the energy demand can be minimized considerably and decisively. They contribute to obtaining climate change policy prospective and goals. 

In fact, solar thermal power is usually utilized for residential water heating and pool heating applications. It’s just a simple technology; but the solar panels on your roof are the collectors of sunlight, thereby heating up the liquid in the tubes. Then, it’s transported into your cylinder, which is ready to use.

Solar thermal technology is the latest renewable energy that homeowners can take perfect advantage of. It’s completely different than other solar systems. This technology uses the sun to heat a liquid like water that you can then use in your homes and businesses. 

Solar thermal panels are utilized to collect the solar rays and convert them into heat for hot water predominantly or less frequently, space heating. This is why it’s considered as the perfect solution for water and pool heating. 

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of solar thermal kits:

· Solar thermal systems are more space efficient.

· They can be up to 70% more efficient in collecting heat from the sun than other systems.

· The technology itself is less complex than other solar systems.

· They are considered as the perfect solutions for water heating purposes.

· They also add great value to your home and business.

Bottom Line –

We at 123 Zero Energy provide solar thermal collectors with 10 year replacement warranty and expected life expectancy of 25 years. Our solar thermal packages come with quality components ensuring high performance and high rate of ROI. 

For more information about solar thermal packages available, please visit 123 Zero Energy at  https://www.123zeroenergy.com/pricing/solar-thermal.html