Answers
With Command Aire, 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 andconnected 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.
© 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 Command Aire 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 outdoor 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 worry free.• It’s A System That Lasts
Underground piping often has 25-to 50-year warranties, and ground source 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 heatpump is contained within thehouse, 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 not effective.
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 73
OF 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
