Geothermal heating and cooling system and method

Abstract

A method of providing a geothermal heating and cooling system for a building having the steps of designing and installing a geothermal heat pump and loop field system to a customer's building; calculating a periodic fee to be charged to the customer; measuring the actual geothermal system usage; and charging the customer the periodic fee which is comprised of a base fee and a usage charge based on the amount the system is in operation.

1 . A geothermal heating and cooling system comprising:
 a geothermal heat pump;   a warm leg connected to the geothermal heat pump, the warm leg being substantially covered by ground for collecting heat from the ground;   a cold leg connected to the geothermal heat pump and the warm leg, the cold leg being substantially covered by ground;   an inlet duct connected to the geothermal heat pump drawing cool air in;   an outlet duct connected to the geothermal heat pump for warm air to exit;   a sensor connected to the geothermal heat pump system that detects the amount that the system is in operation;   means for calculating a periodic usage fee to a user based on the amount the system is in operation; and   means for turning off the system in the event the periodic usage fee is not paid.   
     
     
         2 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a flow meter, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a timer, and a power meter. 
     
     
         3 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1  further comprising a warm leg circulation pump connected to the warm leg for pumping a heat transfer medium through the geothermal heat pump. 
     
     
         4 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1  further comprising a cold leg circulation pump connected to the cold leg for pumping a heat transfer medium through the geothermal heat pump. 
     
     
         5 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 3  wherein the means for turning off the system is an electric switch connected to the warm leg circulation pump. 
     
     
         6 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 4  wherein the means for turning off the system is an electric switch connected to the cold leg circulation pump. 
     
     
         7 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for turning off the system is a fluid valve connected to the warm leg or the cold leg. 
     
     
         8 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for turning off the system is a fluid valve connected to the warm leg. 
     
     
         9 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for turning off the system is a fluid valve connected to the cold leg. 
     
     
         10 . The geothermal heat pump system of  claim 1 , the means for calculating a periodic usage fee to a user comprising computer storage media electrically connected to the sensor, the computer storage media containing software programming steps that calculates the periodic usage fee to a user based on the amount the system is in operation. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a geothermal heating and cooling system for a building comprising the steps of:
 designing and installing a geothermal heating and cooling system to a customer's building;   calculating a periodic fee to be charged to the customer;   measuring the actual geothermal system usage; and   charging the customer the periodic fee, the periodic fee comprising a base fee and a usage charge based on the amount the system is in operation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , where the measuring step is at least one selected from the group consisting of measuring flow, measuring temperature, measuring pressure, measuring time the system is used, and measuring power. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the calculating step calculates a base fee based on cost of equipment, cost of designing and installing the system, rate of return to the vendor, predicted use of a geothermal system, service costs, and maintenance costs. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of shutting off the geothermal heat pump system if the customer does not remit the fee charged. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of shutting off the geothermal heating and cooling system is turning off an electric switch or closing a fluid valve.