Geothermal Heating and Cooling for Coastal Luxury in Port…

Overview

In the picturesque coastal town of Port Campbell, VIC, SóGeo was tasked with designing and installing a low-energy consumption geothermal heating and cooling system for a luxurious new residential build.

Residential homeowners Richard and Ashley wanted a sustainable solution to heat their underfloor heating system, swimming pool, and hydronic towel rails. Additionally, they also wanted cooling through the home’s fan coils in the warm summer months.

SóGeo fulfilled their request by installing a geothermal heating and cooling system for residential homes. The system also supplied hot water for the property, making it a fully integrated solution for their home’s energy needs

Challenges

During the installation, our team encountered the following challenges:

Limited Power Availability: The home had no three-phase power available and a limited number of amps on the single-phase supply. Our team needed to design a geothermal home heating solution that could operate efficiently within these constraints.
Harsh Coastal Conditions: The home’s close proximity to the ocean posed a significant challenge. The salty sea air could cause rapid corrosion of traditional heating and cooling systems. Our team housed the geothermal heat pumps and equipment in a plant room beneath the indoor pool, thus ensuring they were fully protected from the elements and extending their operational life.

Our Solution

To meet the home’s diverse requirements, we installed a horizontal geo-exchange system, taking advantage of the ample space available on Richard and Ashley’s land. The trenches, measuring 1.5 meters deep, 1.5 meters wide, and 240 meters long each, were carefully excavated around the property to create the underground piping system.

We selected a combination of geothermal heat pumps for the home. Stiebel Eltron units were used for heating, which heated the home, its indoor pool, and provided hot water. Meanwhile, Daikin heat pumps were selected for cooling, distributing conditioned air through fan coils and linear bar grilles. This geothermal heating and cooling system ensured a sustainable and fully integrated energy solution for Richard and Ashley.

Collaboration with Key Partners

The project was a collaborative effort between SoGeo, Spence Builders, who constructed the stunning home, and Geo-Exchange Australia Engineers, who provided engineering support for the geothermal system. The combined expertise ensured the system was tailored to meet Richard and Ashley’s unique energy needs while aligning with the overall design of the home.

Installation and Handover

The entire installation process took approximately one year from project start to handover. A standout feature of the geothermal heating system was the indoor swimming pool, where we installed an energy recovery ventilation system to maintain a comfortable indoor climate while minimising energy use.

Results

The completed geo-exchange system efficiently transferred heat between the ground and the home throughout the year, enabling efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer. As a result, we reduced the home’s power consumption by an impressive 70%, making it the ideal choice for Richard and Ashley’s lifestyle.

Despite the coastal climate and high heating demands, the system achieved a SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) of 5.2, a remarkable result for a residential home. This level of efficiency ensures that Richard and Ashley can enjoy optimal comfort with minimal environmental impact.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of the project! SóGeo came with the skill needed to install our geothermal heating system, and we were impressed with how it seamlessly integrated into our home. The reduced energy consumption and amazing system design certainly exceeded our expectations.”

Key Takeaway

As a leading installer for geothermal heating systems, SoGeo is proud to tailor energy-efficient solutions even in challenging coastal environments. By partnering with industry leaders and delivering high-performance systems, we aim to set the standard for sustainable heating and cooling solutions.

If you’re an engineer, architect, or homeowner interested in reducing your energy consumption and carbon footprint, SoGeo can help design the ideal geothermal heating and cooling solution for your next project.