Deep Water Source Cooling Vs. Geothermal Air Conditioning For Commercial Use
Having trouble keeping your commercial air conditioning repairs to a minimum? That is not surprising, considering the fact that you are attempting to cool several thousand square feet of space! Commercial properties are always difficult to heat and cool evenly, regardless of how many furnaces or how many air conditioners you use. Maybe it is time to consider some other sources of cooling power that are not only more effective, but also more earth-friendly.
Deep water source cooling is one option, while geothermal cooling is another. Here is more information on both. There is also info on how frequently you can expect to repair either of these alternative cooling options.
Deep Water Source Cooling
Imagine pulling thousands of gallons of frigid water from glacial lakes or partially frozen lakes and sending it into a set of buildings to help cool all of them. That is the reality of this cooling alternative. The best part is that the water cools more than one building in a specified area and it is perfect if your commercial building is within several hundred feet of a very large lake. Regions in Canada have already proven that this option is extremely efficient, saving them anywhere from eighty to ninety percent in kilowatt hours!
As the cold water warms to the hot air pulled from inside the building, an exit pipe returns the warmed water to the cold lake. Because the water is not processed or heated beyond the hot air that exists in the buildings, it is safe to return the water to the lake. Once returned, the warm water begins to cool and freeze again, supplying a constant renewable source of cooled air to the buildings it supplies.
As far as repairs are concerned, only the humongous water transportation pipes and the pumps required may need some work after a time. The pipes and pumps need to be maintained, just as any cooling system would. The difference, however, between this cooling alternative and commercial air conditioners is that you have no toxic components or moving parts (beyond the pumping action) with which to concern yourself.
Geothermal Cooling
Geothermal cooling has been used residentially for some time now. Commercially, it works the same way. You have an underground coil that either provides heat or cooled air to your building. This is a better option for your building if A) you are nowhere near a cold or frozen lake, and B) you do not want to share your air cooling system with several nearby buildings.
As an added bonus, geothermal units almost never need any repairs, and maintenance is null. It just depends on the amount of space you have available for excavation and burial of the geothermal coil underground. (Keep in mind that the coil can be installed both vertically and horizontally, if you are lacking enough ground space to install the coil horizontally.)
Installation of Either System
Both of these options above are not cheap. However, the astonishing savings in both money and energy come back to you within a year to five years, depending on the system you choose. Removal of your old commercial air conditioners is simple enough, since some of the pipes and all of the condensers outside are really all you need to remove.
The geothermal system can be installed within about two days, while the deep water system will require a few months. If you choose the deep water option, you should start in late winter or early spring to have the system up and running in time for the hotter summer months. If you choose the geothermal system, you will need to wait until the ground has thawed enough for the excavation and installation of the coil. For more information, contact companies like Master Service Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.