Geothermal Systems

The exploitation of geothermal energy is a strategic key point that significantly enhances buildings’ energy efficiency and dramatically reduces their energy costs, when combined with holistic architectural and mechanical approach. Effective Development’s know-how offers optimum implementation of geothermal systems in any landscape environment and building structure that plans to deliver an excellent CO2 footprint.

Geothermal Energy is the natural heating energy of Earth that flows from the hot interior of our planet to its surface.

The exploitation of geothermal energy in order to serve human needs is essential, as it is practically an inexhaustible energy source of unlimited applications, depending on the temperature level.

Low enthalpy geothermal energy (25 to 80 ° C) is used for interior space heating and cooling, under certain conditions and for water desalinating.

Average enthalpy geothermal energy (80 to 150 ° C) is used for electrical power production and heating or drying of timber and agricultural products.

High enthalpy geothermal energy (> 150 ° C) is used for electrical power production.

For us in Effective Development, the contribution of geothermal heat exchangers in bioclimatic construction is catalytic for replacement of both conventional heating systems and hot water production by oil or fuel gas, as well as those of central air conditioning, even the split units. This method becomes an integral part of a holistic architectural approach, beyond whose obvious environmental benefits we additionally accomplish minimum operating cost, zero maintenance costs and extremely short payback periods of the relevant expenditure. The systems we study and implement can achieve ROI in less than 2 years.

As a principal, the exploitation of geothermal energy in this case, is achieved through the energy exchanging between two energy banks: the ground and the building. During winter, “cold bank” is considered the ground and “warm bank” is considered the interior space of the building, while in summer time, conversely, we consider the interior of the building as the “cold bank” and the ground as the “warm bank”. In Greece, the relatively steady energy potential that is found in shallow rocks and in the ground water horizon typically ranges from 14°C to 18°C. The geothermal system exploits the existing steady ground temperature, by absorbing heat in winter, in order to transfer it to the building and by heat dissipation from the building and disposing it to the ground during summer.

When large outdoor space is available, we propose to construct a horizontal geothermal heat exchanger in depth of 1.5 to 2.0 m, which is more economical in double layer ditch version. Otherwise, in case of space restrictions, the geothermal heat exchanger is constructed vertically by drillings in depth of 80-120m. In this solution the higher cost of drilling is compensated by the lower energy consumption of the system.

In order to achieve the “energy exchange”, we use geothermal heat pumps with high co-efficient performance (COP). Nowadays in Europe there is massive heat pump production with COP over 5-6, and there is also heat pumps production with COP over 8.5 on a research and development level. The combination of these very high co-efficient performances and the incorporation of heat retracement systems, ensure minimum cost of electrical energy consumption to operate these systems.