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Energy Development Initiative

Geothermal in Action

The Move Is On ... Towards Geothermal

As public awareness of geothermal systems continues to grow, so is the number of geothermal systems that have been installed.

   In harmony with nature and your pocket book

Geothermal is increasingly being chosen by home owners, architects, commercial building owners, etc. The definite advantages of geothermal heat pump have increased installations approximately 25% per year throughout North America since the late 1990's.

Today more than 1,000,000 North American units have now been installed and Manitobans are one of the largest single geothermal users in Canada.

RESIDENTIAL DEMONSTRATIONS:

  • Over 5,000 geothermal systems have been installed in Manitoba - many of these are residential installations.

  • A residential subdivision in Wawanesa, Manitoba has been developed exclusively to utilize geothermal heat pump technology.

  • In Brandon, a proposed subdivision has been planned with geothermal service.

  • Sun Rivers Golf Resort in the interior of BC is designed around a championship golf course and an award winning premier master plan. Two thousand homes, a Resort Hotel, Village Centre and Community Amenities surround a centerpiece of natural beauty and varied recreation….and geothermal heat pump is part of this development.

  • In Bellwood, Ontario, a subdivision with 195 developed lots on 65 acres known as Pine Meadows will be serviced geothermally using individual vertical closed loop systems.

Pine Meadows

Suggestion - bookmark this Manitoba Energy website NOW before viewing the other sites listed in the links below.

Find the links of several Canadian geothermal subdivisions listed below:

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COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATIONS:

Advantages For Developers, Owners and Landlords

Geothermal heat pump systems create "an exceptionally comfortable" environment, with highest satisfaction ratings.2 The system can be in heating or cooling mode at any time and at the same time in different parts of the same building. The system can compensate for heat build-up or temperature variance. Equipment installation is more compact than traditional HVAC, Mechanical rooms are smaller or eliminated. Chillers and cooling towers requiring structural support, construction cost, sound isolation and maintenance labour are eliminated. No boilers mean no smokestacks, no back-up fuel tanks or natural gas lines and no dangers of explosion.

For commercial buildings, geothermal heat pump technology eliminates costs and affects of chemicals and sterilization agents used against algae and bacterial growth in cooling towers, which can taint air drawn through building ventilation ducts (part of sick building syndrome).

No gas emissions of any kind. No holes are drilled or installed in roofs, reducing the risk of leaks. For architecturally sensitive design or restoration, the design advantage allows unlimited creativity and aesthetically pleasing work without HVAC equipment constraints. For retrofitting older buildings, this means full air-conditioning is an option, in many cases for the first time.

Below are Geothermal applications in Rosenort:

  • Rosebay Apartments
  • Rosenort Credit Union
  • Rosewood Apartments
  • Rosenort Hockey Arena
  • Heritage House (Café on Rose Lane)
  • School Building

Rosenort, Manitoba Geothermal Heat Pump Applications


Manitoba's Developer Shindico goes with Geothermal Technology for new Head Office

New Shindico Office, Waverley Street and Taylor Avenue

Smith Carter Architects & Engineers Winnipeg Head Office is serviced with Geothermal Technology

Smith Carter Architects Head Office

Shindico Inc. Going Green with New Head Office
Martin Cash, Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday, June 12, 2004

New Digs Eco Friendly, Waverley HQ Environmental Flagship
Kathleen Martens, Winnipeg Sun, Sunday, March 28, 2004

Suggestion - bookmark this Manitoba Energy website NOW before viewing the other sites listed in the links below.

Other Commercial Demonstrations

School Demonstrations:

DISTRICT/COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATIONS:

 
Stonewall Jets Auction Fundraising Dinner

District Energy is the distribution of thermal energy from a central plant facility by using a pipeline distribution system. The thermal energy can be provided through geothermal heat pump technology. The economic viability of district energy systems often relates closely to the energy density of the thermal customers being served and the level of customer subscription to the district energy system. As a result, district energy systems tend to be located in urban cores within towns and cities that serve a combination of applications including commercial, institutional and residential customers.

Geothermal district energy can play a role in community energy planning. Additional information is available below:

2 Ministry of Natural Resources, Brochure Heat Pump Technology, 1997; Trends in Renewable Energy Issue #143

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