Province of Manitoba Seeing Green to Protect our Environment

Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems

Down-to-earth technology
How geothermal systems work
Cutting costs
Reducing emissions
Improving comfort and safety
Manitoba a geothermal leader
Is geothermal right for you?
Incentives for installing geothermal systems
Grant Application Form
Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit
Other resources

Geothermal Contact
Robert Walger
Energy, Climate Change & Green Strategy Initiatives
Innovation, Energy & Mines
Government of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB
Tel: (204) 945-7905
Fax: (204) 943-0031
Email: Robert.Walger@gov.mb.ca

Down-to-earth technology

Below the frost line where the earth stores thermal energy generated by the sun, the temperature of the ground is fairly constant. That means, compared to the outside air, the earth is significantly warmer in the middle of winter and cooler in the middle of summer.

Geothermal technology turns yards into energy sources, moving heat to or from a building to create the most environmentally clean, energy-efficient and cost-effective means of heating and cooling residential and commercial buildings.

Manitobans have been enjoying reliable, environmentally-friendly geothermal heating and cooling for over two decades. In addition to energy cost savings, those who own geothermal heat pumps often note that the systems are cleaner and deliver a more even, comfortable temperature.

Concerns for the environment and volatile natural gas prices are leading more and more people to look at this clean, energy-efficient option. As geothermal becomes increasingly efficient, the number of installations is growing every day. There are now more than one million installations throughout North America.

How geothermal systems work

In a geothermal heat pump system, a series of coiled pipes, known as closed loops, are buried in the earth below the frost line or submerged in water to access the earth’s energy. Fluid is circulated through the pipes to an electrically driven heat pump inside the building. In winter, the heat pump extracts and concentrates the earth’s energy, which is then distributed through the building’s ductwork or space heating system. In summer, the system is reversed to transfer heat out of the building, where it uses the cooler ground as a heat sink.

There are two common types of geothermal loop systems:

Closed loop fields – in which a heat transfer fluid is circulated through buried or submerged pipes to the heat pump. The fluid never leaves the loop.

Open loop fields – in which water is pulled from a water source, such as a domestic water well, into the heat pump where only a small amount of heat is extracted or added then returned to a second well on the property.

Manitobans have access to a variety of loop configurations designed to accommodate different properties.

Horizontal closed loops – are buried in the earth at a depth that, in Manitoba, usually ranges from two to three metres (seven to ten feet). These loop systems are generally used on larger properties due to their land area requirements.
Vertical closed loops – are installed in boreholes that in Manitoba normally range from 12 to 90 metres (40 to 300 feet) deep. These loop systems are more popular where available land is limited.
Lake or pond closed loops – rest on the bottom of the body of water, so must be sufficiently deep and securely anchored.
Well-to-well open loops – pump water from a supply well to a heat pump system and return the water through a discharge well. Open loops tend to be used for larger geothermal applications. Ex: commercial projects, apartment buildings or in rural areas.

A geothermal designer and/or accredited Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance (MGEA) installer contractor can assist in selecting the most suitable loop system for a particular project.

Cutting costs

Geothermal energy is more efficient than combustion furnaces because heat pumps simply move heat from one place to another, rather than converting it from one kind of energy to another. About two-thirds of the energy supplied by a geothermal system is free, renewable energy that comes right out of the ground. The balance comes from Manitoba’s renewable electricity that is used to power the compression cycle of the heat pump and to move the warm or cool air throughout the building.

Although more expensive to install than conventional systems, geothermal can reduce annual heating and cooling costs by 50 to 70 per cent. When these lower operating costs are considered, geothermal systems are usually cheaper overall.

A geothermal system provides both space heating and cooling, so there is no noisy, stand-alone air conditioning unit to install and maintain. Geothermal heat pumps tend to be low maintenance and have a long service life. Because the equipment is located inside your home, it is not exposed to the wear and tear of the elements. A properly installed ground loop system can be expected to perform well for 50 years or more.

Geothermal can also provide long-term economic benefits to building owners by eliminating most inflation and energy price volatility that may be associated with conventional heating systems.

Reducing emissions

Geothermal systems do not create any combustion products, as gas or propane-operated furnaces do. That is why geothermal heat pumps can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional heating and cooling systems that use fossil fuels. For an average home, about four to six tonnes of harmful emissions can be eliminated each year. For most Manitobans, no other single action can make as large an impact to reduce emissions.

Improving comfort and safety

People who live in homes with geothermal systems talk about the superior comfort they experience. That is because the relatively stable temperature of the earth assures reliable even heating in winter. The air is also gently heated in more gradual increments, eliminating hot spots and drafts.

Geothermal requires no exhaust venting, so the number of penetrations in the building envelope is reduced, improving air tightness. Because there is no combustion involved in the process, there are no on-site emissions from a geothermal system. That means there is no risk of dangerous carbon monoxide entering the living space.

Manitoba a geothermal leader

Manitoba has become a major leader in geothermal heat pumps. We are an activity hub for North American geothermal installations:

Manitobans are installing geothermal systems, on a per-capita basis, at more than three times the Canadian average.
To date, approximately 6,000 geothermal heat pump units have been installed in the province, generating annual direct sales of $35 million and rising.
Manitoba’s geothermal industry has grown to approximately 100 accredited contractors/installers and also includes local manufacturing.
Through the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance (MGEA), there is now unprecedented quality assurance provided to Manitobans. This comes from such requirements as rigid training for installers and mandatory compliance to design and installation standards.

Is geothermal right for you?

The feasibility of a geothermal installation for your home or business will depend on a variety of site specific factors. Your accredited Manitoba Geothrmal Energy Alliance (MGEA) contractor will need to consider:

lot size for installation of a ground loop or water wells
the heating and cooling requirements of the building
access for installation equipment
for existing buildings, the adequacy of existing electrical systems and ductwork

There are many qualified installers serving Manitobans. Word-of-mouth from satisfied customers is always an excellent reference. You can also access a list of industry-accredited contractors in your area from the MGEA.

The MGEA is a not-for-profit Manitoba industry association of geothermal providers including designers, installers and manufacturers.

To find out if geothermal is right for you, contact the MGEA.

Incentives for installing geothermal systems

Manitoba Geothermal Energy Incentive Program

The Province of Manitoba provides support of geothermal through a refundable tax credit that is retroactive to April 2007 and a provincial grant program effective January, 2009.

For geothermal installations in new homes, Manitobans can receive up to $3,000 in incentives including a refundable Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit worth about $2,000, and a $1,000 grant for homes in natural gas serviced areas of the Province.
For conversions in existing homes, Manitobans can also receive a refundable Green Energy Tax Credit worth about $2,000. When included with existing federal ecoENERGY retrofit grants, homeowners can receive up to $6,375 in incentives.
Owners of commercial buildings and apartments may be eligible to receive up to 10 per cent of the value of their installed systems.
Building owners who install new district geothermal service systems may be eligible to receive up to $150,000.
Manitoba heat pump manufacturers can receive up to 5 per cent of the price for heat pumps made and sold for use in the province.

The Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance (MGEA) will work with Manitobans in assessing geothermal options for their specific needs, providing accredited installers and accessing various provincial, federal and Manitoba Hydro incentives. For more information on the MGEA, visit www.mgea.ca.

Grant Application Guides & Application Form

Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit

The Manitoba geothermal grant program complements the Manitoba Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit.
For a Tax Credit Worksheet & Additional Information see: http://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/tao/green.html.
For your reference, a copy of The Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit Regulation can be found at the following webpage: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/pdf/i010-186.08.pdf.
The Manitoba Tax Assistance Office will assist on matters pertaining to the Manitoba Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit. For additional information or assistance on the tax credit, contact:
The Manitoba Tax Assistance Office
Facsimile: 204-948-2263
Telephone: 204-948-2115
Toll free: 1-800-782-0771
E-mail: tao@gov.mb.ca

Other financial assistance programs available to Manitobans include:

ManitobaHydro Earth Power Program
Natural Resources Canada ecoENERGY Retrofit Program

Additional resources

Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance
Manitoba Hydro Earth Power Program
Canadian Renewable Energy Network – Earth Energy
Natural Resources Canada Office of Energy Efficiency