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We Chose Command Aire.
Many homeowners have found geothermal energy as a great source in
heating and cooling their home. These homeowners power their geothermal
system with Command-Aire's ground-source heat pumps. They know that
Command-Aire offers high efficiency equipment, ranging from 13 to 22.8
EER and from 2.7 to 3.9 COP providing some of the greatest energy
savings and home comfort found from geothermal design.
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Command-Aire is a brand name product line of Trane, a business of
American Standard Companies. The geothermal products are manufactured
and marketed from the Waco Business Unit, Waco, Texas.
Answers
Are Just Below The Surface Fluctuating costs for electricity, natural
gas and even heating oil are one thing the homeowner can always count
on. And, let’s face it, they never seem to go down. It always seems to
be on the rise. All of this means higher utility costs and greater
expenses in heating or cooling the home. Wouldn’t it be nice to know
there was an alternative way to heat and cool the home that was not
only cost-effective but environmentally friendly as well? What if this
system could also cut your energy costs by at least 30% and reduce our
dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels? It sounds complicated but the
answer is easy. Just look below the surface - the surface of the earth.
Comfort You Can Feel Balanced, continuous comfort may be felt year
round when your home contains a ground-source (geothermal) system.
Comfort that is not only felt, but also seen through energy cost
savings on your utility bills. Command Aire is one of the leading
residential ground-source heat pump providers and has a long history of
successfully incorporating their units as the driving force behind any
geothermal application. With Trane, you can expect equipment that
includes such options as a self-adjusting air flow control, virtually
free domestic hot water heating (when in cooling modes), and standard
unit components specifically selected to lengthen the equipment’s
life-span. All of this packaged and connected to the earth for a
renewable energy resource to provide you with one of the greatest
energy savings systems available in heating and air conditioning.
Renewable energy that is not only easy on the pocketbook, but also easy
on the environment. Command Aire geothermal systems are buried treasure
for the homeowner Command Aire geothermal systems can help reduce
energy consumption in your home by 30% to 50% © 2002 American Standard
Inc. Command Aire geothermal HVAC systems are easy on your pocketbook
and the environment • It Pays For Itself The high efficiency of the
Trane geothermal system can lead to a payback within two to five years
through energy savings. Homeowners typically save 30-50% in annual
energy costs and some have experienced up to 70% savings. • It’s Earth
Friendly The air-tight network of underground piping circulates water
or environmentally responsible antifreeze solution that never comes in
contact with the earth. This system produces no combustion or smoke,
helping lower greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide
released into the atmosphere. Plus, there is no concern over carbon
monoxide released into the home. Geothermal also significantly reduces
our dependence on non-renewable supply of fossil fuels. • It’s Easy To
Maintain Ground-source heat pumps have few maintenance requirements.
The heat pump is placed inside your home, protecting it from out door
elements and trash that can clog-up outdoor equipment or damage
electrical components. They use fewer mechanical components, making
them durable and reliable. When properly installed, the underground
components are virtually worryfree. • It’s A System That Lasts
Underground piping often has 25- to 50-year warranties, and
groundsource heat pumps themselves typically last more than 20 years. •
It Preserves Your Home’s Aesthetic Value The piping for the geothermal
system is hidden beneath your lawn or driveway. Since the heat pump is
contained within the house, there is no need for any outdoor equipment
and the noise associated with them. • It Provides Free Hot Water With
all Command Aire heat pump models, a hot water heater connection is
available. This option utilizes excess heat normally absorbed by the
earth to heat water, reducing the amount of electricity or gas consumed
by your hot water heater. In summer months, your hot water is virtually
free. Year-round, these systems make hot water abundant and up to 30%
less expensive. • It Works Almost Anywhere & In Any Climate
Geothermal systems work in almost any geographical location. The system
is also equally effective in either cooling or heating mode - depending
on your home’s need and location. Regardless of heating or cooling
need, the geothermal system is a cost-effective alternative to
traditional gas, heating oil, propane or electrical systems. Due to dry
sand conditions, desert regions are the only geographical areas where
geothermal systems are ineffective. Why should I choose geothermal?
GSUJ Vertical heat pump GSSD split or waterside condensing unit GSHC
Horizontal heat pump GSWD water-to-water unit Superior heat pumps are
the heart of geothermal system efficiency What About the Heat Pump For
the geothermal system to work, the ground-source heat exchanger must be
attached to a heat pump. The heat pump circulates water through pipes
buried in a continuous loop to absorb, or give up heat from the home
and transfer it into the earth. Command Aire offers multiple styles of
heat pumps to fit every application. Our models include: The GSUJ,
GSHC, GSWD and GSSD. The GSUJ model is a highly efficient vertical
standing water-to-air heat pump designed for installation in a closet,
basement or garage. This model contains many features in comfort
control. One feature is the unit’s ability to self-adjust airflow to
meet comfort needs. The GSHC model is also a high efficiency
water-to-air design typically installed in the attic of a home. It
provides the same comfort features as the GSUJ model only in a
horizontal arrangement. The GSSD model is a waterside only unit. The
allows the homeowner the ability to locate the waterside of the heat
pump in a garage or basement near the hot water heater, and the air
side (ordered separately) inside a closet or attic. The GSSD model is
also a highly efficient heat pump. The GSWD model is a water-to-water
heat pump used in high volume water heating or cooling. A typical
installation may include radiant floor heating. With radiant heating,
piping is installed in the sub-flooring of the home. The heat pump then
exchanges heat from within the ground and transfers that heat into the
radiant slab loop. The occupant comfort is increased because a person’s
body temperature does not lose heat trying to warm a cold surface. A
comfortable temperature over an entire floor is provided rather than
hot air from registers or baseboards. And because radiant systems do
not heat air, they are not affected as much by infiltration. For every
$1 spent on electricity, Command Aire geothermal units create $3 worth
of electrical heat output “We’re seeing nearly a 50-percent reduction
in electricity costs over our other heating and air conditioning
system.” - Mark Luckie, Texas Home Owner Geothermal at work For Mark
Luckie and his family of central Texas, their new home was a dream come
true. The 2,500-sq. ft. white Austin limestone home constructed in 2000
sits atop 6 acres in Oglesby, Texas. When construction of the home
began, Mark decided to install a geothermal HVAC system. With the harsh
Texas summers, Mark wanted a system that could help keep electrical
costs down and still maintain an adequate comfort level within the
home. “With the vaulted ceilings and large open spaces in the house, I
knew there would be a challenge keeping the house cool. After doing
some research, I felt a geothermal system would meet all of our needs,”
says Mark. Vertical system The Luckie’s chose a vertical loop system
with Trane 4-ton GSSD and TWE air-handling units to circulate the air.
The vertical loop contains five wells at 250 ft. deep. Regular
configurations for this system call for one well per ton. However, the
Luckie’s elected to install an extra well for increased efficiency.
Each well was drilled and is currently under the front yard of the
house. “We liked the fact we could put the well field in our front yard
and forget the well field is even there,” Mark adds. The GSSD and TWE
units are housed in a utility closet in the garage. Mark said this was
a positive because the units are not exposed to outside weather
conditions and are easy to access for any type of service issue.
Immediate Payback After the system’s first full year of operation
(2001), the Luckies were enjoying utility bills lower than those in
their previous, smaller home. During the peak summer months
(June-Aug.), bills ranged from $88.00 to $122.00. Similar results were
also found during the winter as well (See chart below for details).
“We’re seeing nearly a 50-percent reduction in electricity costs over
our other heating and air conditioning system,” Mark says, adding the
house is generally kept at 73OF year-round. The GSSD unit was also
equipped with a desuperheater which provides free hot water for the
home during the summer months, further dropping electrical costs. The
Luckie’s also received rebates and incentives from their local
electrical co-op for installing a geothermal system. This is not unique
to Texas. Many states and electric companies offer incentives for
installing energy saving systems. “Installing a geothermal system is
one of the smartest things we could have done. I would recommend
geothermal to anyone,” Mark says. Geothermal system was right choice
for Texas homeowner 2001 Luckie Family Electric Costs and Consumption
Chart Literature Order Number Date Supersedes Stocking Location Since
The Trane Company has a policy of continuous product and product data
improvement, it reserves the right to change design and specifications
without notice. The Trane Company An American Standard Company
www.trane.com For more information contact your local sales office or
e-mail us at comfort@trane.com WSHP-SLB029-EN March 2003 New La Crosse
To use the earth as a heat source, a series of pipe – commonly called a
loop - is buried in the ground. This buried pipe is a high-density
polyethylene plastic, which is also used to pipe natural gas and
underground conduit for telecommunication lines. The pipes are filled
with water or environmentally responsible antifreeze solution that acts
as a heat exchange medium. The different loops may be broken into four
variations: More About the Types of Ground Loop (Geothermal) Systems...
A vertical loop system, where small diameter closed-loop piping is
buried 50 to 400 feet deep and connected via headers to bring fluid to
and from the heat pump. A vertical loop design is used when the soil
conditions are not conducive to trenching, the land area is limited, or
the soil is rocky. A horizontal loop system, also a closed-loop design,
uses long horizontal loops buried 4 to 6 feet below the surface. The
buried pipe is arranged within a trench in single pipe to multiple pipe
designs. A slinky loop system uses an existing pond or the ground as a
heat exchanger. The slinky loop is a flattened, overlapped, circular
coiled, closed loop-heat exchanger. The loop may be installed in a
horizontal or vertical fashion. An open loop system uses ground water
from a well to exchange heat. The ground water is pumped from the well
into the ground-source heat pump where heat is extracted or rejected
and then returned to an aquifer. Vertical Loop System Open Well System
Slinky Loop System
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We are proud to install Command-Aire geothermal units. The GSUJ High Efficiency Ground Source Heat Pump. Your warranty comes from Trane an American Standard Company.
Unbeatable Comfort Teamed with Geothermal Technology. Command-Aire's geothermal units are among the most efficient and environmentally responsible, residential heating and cooling units in the industry. With the feature packed, vertical configuration, you can expect effortless comfort for years to come.
The GSUJ model spotlights such options as: internal electric back up heat, an ICM variable speed blower motor for optimum energy efficiency, a desuperheater hot water system, and a cabinet design that allows access to all major components.
The compact unit design may be installed just about anywhere indoors. The unit is available in a left or right side return air configuration; and sizes that range from 1 1/2 to 6 tons. The unit is constructed from heavy gauge steel with an electrostatic powder paint finish.
Each unit is specifically designed for service and maintainability. It includes features such as: a three piece front panel, swivel water fittings, and a hinged filter rack. A high efficiency scroll compressor is provided on all GSUJ models. It comes equipped with an internal over load safety device. HIGH and LOW pressure safety cutouts are also placed on the refrigeration circuit.
Each GSUJ model contains a co-axial water to refrigerant heat exchanger. This heat exchanger is engineered for maximum heat transfer, and minimum fouling and scaling. All low side tubing in the refrigeration circuit is insulated to prevent condensation from forming in the unit.
A desuperheater option provides heat recovery of the system. This feature offers a low cost means of heating water while in the heating mode, and virtually free hot water heating while in the cooling mode.
The standard PSC blower motor offers flexibility to the contractor to change blower speeds easily allowing it to adapt to various duct designs. An optional ICM variable speed blower motor offers increased efficiency, better humidity control, and reduced air noise, while providing highter comfort levels to the homeowner.
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