Page 73 - North American Clean Energy May June 2015

Hydronic geothermal heat pump
Changes to state laws demand continuing dili- WaterFurnace International, Inc.’s 5 Series 504W11 hydronic geothermal heat pump features WaterFurnace’s patent-pending
gence. GEO is now involved in agency and dock- OptiHeat vapor injection technology. OptiHeat creates exiting water temperatures up to 150°F (66° C), due to an additional

eted proceedings in Massachusetts, Vermont, heat exchanger that diverts excess heat and reinjects it into the system. his provides increased heating capacities and greater
and New York to ensure that GHPs are given eiciencies. OptiHeat is the irst water to water heat pump for the North American market to feature vapor injection technology.
their due in utility renewable energy credits and Ofering eiciencies up to 16.1 EER and 3.3 COP, the 5 Series 504W11 is ideal for high-temperature applications, such as

state-supported rebate programs.
baseboard radiator systems, underloor radiant applications, overloor radiant applications, and fan coils. he units can operate in
heating-only or heating/cooling modes.
What’s in a Deinition?
he 5 Series 504W11’s cabinet is fabricated from heavy-gauge steel, while a professional-grade textured inish provides long-
In our nation’s capital, GEO is pushing for oi- lasting protection. Control panels can be placed on either end, which allows piping to be located on the front or back and helps

cial recognition of GHPs as clean and renewable. improve serviceability.
Legislatively, the goal is to include this deini- WaterFurnace | www.waterfurnace.com
tion as an amendment to a suitable bill like the
Portman-Shaheen Energy Savings and Industrial

Competitiveness Act, or a comprehensive energy
eiciency bill promised by Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee Chair Sen. Lisa
Murkowski (R-AK).

Meetings on carbon emission reduction strate-
gies with the White House Council on Environ-
mental Quality, Oice of Management and Budg-
et, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

and the Department of Energy bore unexpected
fruit in March. he administration’s Executive
Order on Sustainability deined GHPs as clean
and renewable, adding them to technologies that POWERED BY:

agencies can use to meet federal renewable energy
purchase requirements.
Even with that success, work for a legislated
deinition of renewable energy that includes

GHPs continues and as a result, a greater adop-
tion of GHPs in federal buildings should be forth-
coming. But more importantly, the new deinition
will be an invaluable argument for greater inclu-

sion of GHPs in state public policies.

Give Our Tax Credits a Chance

Among other tax issues, perhaps the biggest
industry concern is federal GHP inancial incen-
tives, including a 30% tax credit for residential,
and 10% for commercial installations. Both will

expire at the end of 2016. Congress has been
asked for an extension through 2020.
Unlike production tax credits for wind that go
to developers, this tax credit accrues to taxpay-

ers who buy GHPs. And because of the severe
recession that coincided with the start of those
credits in 2008, much of their promise of jump-
starting GHP sales was lost. With four more
SEPTEMBER 14–17, 2015
years of tax credits, and a growing economy, that
beneit may inally be realized.
Anaheim Convention Center • Anaheim, CA

Looking Ahead

he GHP industry has rejoined the public policy
debate. As cost, security, and environmental is- Registration is now open for the most powerful
sues drive today’s energy markets, the pace of solar event of the year.
green energy adoption is heating up. With an

improving economy, extension of federal tax
credits to 2020, and oicial recognition of GHPs’ Join your industry colleagues at SPI for .
renewable and energy eiciency advantages, the
GHP industry looks forward to a bigger share of • daily networking opportunities

the HVAC market and economies of scale that • best-in-class education
will make them the logical irst choice for heat-
ing and cooling homes and buildings.
• an expo loor with 600 exhibitors showcasing

new products and technology
Doug Dougherty is the presi-
dent and CEO of the Geother- • and more!
mal Exchange Organization

www.solarpowerinternational.com
GEO
Learn more at
www.geoexchange.org

North American Clean Energy
73
SPI15 Ad (7.5x10).indd 1
2/23/15
2:38 PM