Geothermal Eco Options Inc
407 2nd Ave SW, Cresco, Iowa, United States

Geothermal Eco Options Inc. (GEO) is owned and managed by Larry Leliefeld and Frederic "Reed" Carlson who together have over 60 years of construction experience. GEO is a progressive, quality-conscious geothermal driller and installer of all types of geothermal loops, specializing in the drilling and installation of geothermal loops for geothermal heating and cooling systems. GEO has successfully completed numerous projects throughout the state of Iowa and neighboring states which include residential, commercial, new construction and retrofits of existing structures. Our equipment is configured to enable access to compact areas, unlike many drilling operations. Our knowledge of geothermal design and installation enables us to provide our customers with a highly efficient geothermal system. We have a competent staff of professionals that are certified by leading industry organizations including the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. Our drillers are certified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and accredited by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association as installers. Almost all of our field personnel are certified by NATE (North American Technician Excellence) as ground source heat pump loop installers. We also employ a State of Iowa licensed Plumbing and Mechanical Systems professional. We strive to be the leaders in technology and innovation and pride ourselves on the quality of our products and services. Pictured from left to right are owners Larry Leliefeld and Reed Carlson.

Geo Energy, geo exchange, geothermal heat pump systems; no need to be confused, they all mean the same thing. They all describe a sustainable resource that lies in the ground at your location. Here's how it works.     A typical air conditioning system draws heat from the inside of a residence or commercial building and discharges it to the air outside using a compressor and fan. As you might expect, on hot days when the A/C is used the most, it is difficult to shed heat into the already hot outside air. The system is very inefficient and must run a long time to remove heat.Conversely in the winter, the air source heat pump tries to draw heat out of already cold air. Likewise, it struggles to draw heat from the frigid air, and must also run a long time.          Geothermal is different. At a depth of 4 to 6 feet below the frost line the ground temperature of the earth remains relatively constant throughout the year. Ground source heat pumps (GSHP) are designed to capitalize on this near constant temperature. Using a properly constructed ground heat exchanger (the ground loop or loops), they harness the thermal energy stored in the ground beneath your site.         Geothermal installations are integrated systems consisting of three major sub-systems.         Air distribution within the structure - air ducts and blowers circulate the air throughout to control the climate within the structure.         Ground source heat pump(s) - mechanical device to drive or "pump" the heat between the two other subsystems. GSHP work most efficiently when the entering liquid from the ground exchanger remains within a range of 40 to 80 degrees.         Ground heat exchangers - in-ground piping (ground loop or loops) arranged in a grid that makes contact with the earth to facilitate heat exchange. Typical ground heat exchangers are constructed of plastic tubing encased in grout creating improved thermal conductivity. These are referred to as closes loop systems. An open loop system uses groundwater from an ordinary well as a heat source. The groundwater is pumped into the GSHP unit where heat is extracted and the water is disposed of back into the ground. These open loop systems are commonly called "pump and dump" systems. Poor water quality can cause serious problems in open loop systems. Mineral deposits can build up inside the GSHP.Impurities, particularly iron, can eventually clog a return well. Because of these issues we will concentrate this discussion on the closed loop systems.

The Benefits of a Geothermal System

The geothermal heat pump, also known as the ground source heat pump, is a highly efficient renewable energy technology that is gaining wide spread acceptance for both residential and commercial applications. Geothermal heat pumps are used for heating and cooling, as well as water heating. Its great advantage is that it works by concentrating naturally existing heat, rather than by producing heat through combustion of fossil fuels. Today, more than ever, homeowners and business owners are discovering the benefits of these systems which tap into the relatively constant temperature of the earth.  The technology relies on the fact that the earth (beneath the surface) remains at a relatively constant temperature throughout the year, warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler in the summer.  The geothermal heat pump takes advantage of this by transferring heat stored in the earth or in ground water into a building during winter, and transferring it out of the building and back into the ground during the summer.  The ground, in other words, acts as a heat source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer.  To use the earth as a heat source/sink, a series of pipes, commonly called a "loop," is buried in the ground near the building. The loop can be buried either vertically or horizontally. The loop circulates a fluid (water or a mixture water and anti-freeze) that absorbs heat from, or relinquishes heat to, the surrounding soil, depending on whether the ambient air is cooler or warmer than the soil.  For heating, a geothermal heat pump removes the heat from the fluid in the earth connection, concentrates it, and then transfers it to the building. For cooling, the process is reversed. Conventional ductwork is generally used to distribute heated or cooled air from the geothermal heat pump throughout the building. However in floor radiant heat can also be used effectively with a geothermal heat pump.  An additional benefit occurs by utilizing the waste heat that is removed from the building's interior during the cooling season to provide virtually free hot water. This can result in a total savings in hot water costs of approximately 30% annually and further lower your building's total emissions.

Ground Source Heat Pump and Geothermal History

Ground source heat pump technology is the wave of the future, but the concept isn't new at all. In fact, Lord Kelvin developed the concept of the heat pump in 1852. In the late 1940's, Robert C. Webber, a cellar inventor, was experimenting with his deep freezer. He dropped the temperature in the freezer and touched the outlet pipe and almost burned his hand. He realized heat was being thrown away, so he ran outlets from his freezer to his boilers and provided his family with more hot water than they could use! There was still wasted heat, so he piped hot water through a coil and used a small fan to distribute heat through the house to save coal.  Mr. Webber was so pleased with the results that he decided to build a full size heat pump to generate heat for the entire home.  Mr. Webber also came up with the idea to pump heat from underground, where the temperature doesn't vary much throughout the year.  Copper tubing was placed in the ground and Freon gas ran through the tubing to gather the ground heat. The gas was condensed in the cellar, gave off its heat and forced the expanded gas to go through the ground coil to pick up another load.  Air was moved by a fan and distributed into the home.  The next year, Mr. Webber sold his old coal furnace.  In the forties, the heat pump was known for its superior efficiency.  The efficiency was especially useful in the seventies.  The Arab oil embargo awakened conservation awareness and launched interest in energy conservation despite cheap energy prices.  That is when Dr. James Bose, professor at Oklahoma State University, came across the heat pump concept in an old engineering text.  Dr. Bose used the idea to help a homeowner whose heat pump was dumping scalding water into his pool.  Dr. Bose fashioned the heat pump to circulate the water through the pipes instead of dumping the water into the pool.  This was the beginning of the new era in geothermal systems.  Dr. Bose returned to Oklahoma State University and began to develop his idea.  Since then, Oklahoma has become the center of ground source heat pump research and development.  The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association was formed in Oklahoma, and is based on the campus of Oklahoma State University, where Dr. Bose serves as executive director. 

Design and Installation

Design and Installation Geothermal heating and cooling is efficient, practical, comfortable, and environmentally friendly when designed and installed professionally.The installation of your system is based on several project specific design variables. After professional consultation, your geothermal energy system can be tailored to best meet your needs. It is imperative to have your system correctly designed and installed by certified HVAC professionals.