We recently happened upon an article about the growth of the geothermal heat industry, which we found interesting and exciting.  This type of climate control, whether in a residential or commercial application, can certainly provide a number of benefits for the property owner.  A more consistent temperature in the space, as well as greater humidity control, are among those, but most people are quicker to remark on the cost savings over the lifetime of the system.

SRP Controls makes a myriad of sensors that can be used in conjunction with these systems which can help control the mechanicals and further optimize the performance.

In this particular article, the emphasis was on the need for a backup system to maintain a comfortable environment, above and beyond what can be done by geothermal alone.  Wall cassettes can serve this purpose, and an outdoor temperature sensor, like the Ultra Electronics OA, with set points, can determine when the boiler must be used to supply those cassettes. On the other end, set points can determine when it is warm enough to have the boiler system shut down, allowing the geothermal to do full duty.  This will ensure that the heating system can maintain the desired temperatures within the space.

Many homeowners live in temperate areas, where there are “shoulder months”. That is to say that during the day, during these transitional seasons, cooling is necessary, but at night, when outdoor temperatures have fallen, the system will have to provide heat to the space. Having an accurate, reliable OA temperature sensor enables the end user to operate the equipment more efficiently, while enjoying the long term cost advantages of geothermal. In short, you can have the geothermal system that you desire, live in a more comfortable environment, and extend the life of the equipment, as long as you are     operating it properly.