The Mechanical systems are a very important component in the 5×4 Project building. This balanced mechanical system provides us with fresh, filtered air all year round, and can recover up to 95% of heating and cooling throughout the building. The components have all been carefully chosen to work in harmony wiht each other, creating the most efficient and sustainable system possible.
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Archive for the ‘Geothermal’ Category
Parts of our Mechanical System
Geothermal is hot to trot
The Geothermal system has finally been completely installed!
What began long ago with drilling holes into an empty worksite, has finally had the finishing connections put in and is blowing both hot and cold air throughout the house via the modest ducting and vents!
Geothermal Installation
The Geothermal Heat pump system is being set up by Direct Energy. The heat pump and compressor are being instated and connected to the geothermal pipes. Ventilation ducts are being weaved through the walls to all four levels.
The Geothermal Heat Pump System will cover the heating, cooling, hot-water and ventilation of the 5×4 building.
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- The hot water sits above the geothermal heat radiator
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- The insulated geothermal pipes run from inside on the first floor into the ground via the back of the building
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- The geothermal heat pumping system
Connecting and prepping
First thing in the morning Stewart from Direct Energy came to connect the geothermal loop. The team from Pilacon, as well as the the plumbing guys from Atherton Plumbing arrived to connect the pipes and dig the required trenches in preparation for the boxing of the slab.
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- Digging for the slab
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- Geothermal pipes
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- Geothermal pipes
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- The digging is complete
Geothermal drilling
With the site cleared, the drilling teams from Direct Energy and Terra Test arrive, ready to begin the first geothermal drill. This is the first stage in the installation process of the heating and cooling system designed by Direct Energy.
Grand Designs stood by to film the first steps in the process, and the first 45 meters of the drill went easily and without a hitch. But we did well not to count our chickens, because the next 20 meters got progressively harder and slower. (more…)