A geothermal heat pump system was installed at WWAS that relies on stable underground temperatures to provide heating and cooling. Trenches 4-5 feet deep and about 8 inches wide were dug around the building using a trenching machine. A very thick high-density polyethylene pipe was then wrestled into the trenches by a two person crew to lay the piping for the geothermal field. Snedegar Construction dug the trenches and laid the piping, completing the underground portion of the geothermal system installation.

1. Installing WWAS’
Horizontal Geothermal field

2. How Geothermal Works
Geothermal heat pumps are similar to ordinary
heat pumps, but instead of using heat found in
outside air, they rely on the stable, even heat of
the earth to provide heating & air conditioning.
A few feet below the earth's surface, the
ground remains at a relatively constant
temperature.
Ever been inside a cave in the summer?
The air underground is a constant temperature
(~55 degrees), thus cooler than the air outside.
During the winter, that same cave temperature is
warmer than the air outside.
That's the principle behind geothermal heat
pumps. In the winter, they move the heat from
the earth into your house. In the summer, they
pull the heat from your home and discharge it
into the ground. (text from: www.consumerenergycenter.org)

3. A very thick HDPE pipe is used

4. A trenching unit was used to create
long narrow, 4-5 foot deep trenches

5. The trenches are only about 8” wide

6. The machine operator creates the
trenches…

7. While a second crew member
wrestles the piping into the trench!

8. The pipe trenches run almost the
complete length of the building

9. Braving the mud to install the pipe
The great folks from Snedegar Construction dug
the trenches and laid the piping for WWAS’
geothermal field. Thank you, guys!

10. Watch for more slide shows
documenting the installation our
heating and cooling components as
the project progresses:
> Geothermal furnace unit
> In slab radiant heat in concrete floor
> High efficiency supplemental
gas boiler