Merry Christmas!

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Liberty

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.” - Patrick Henry

Contemplating Heaven, but Drilling Deep Down

from the NYT Nov. 18, 2008

For millions of years, invisible streams of water have run deep in the earth below Manhattan at a constant temperature of 65 degrees, a source of energy that seems beyond exhaustion — and beyond reach. But eight months ago, a seminary in Chelsea began to pump water from those streams to heat its buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer.

“It’s forever noiseless, forever pollution-less, forever carbon-free,” said Maureen Burnley, the executive vice president of the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church.

For the seminary, and now about 60 other places in Manhattan, the unseen bounty of the earth is being harvested by geothermal pumps. Manhattan is geologically suited for these deep wells. From a depth of 1,500 to 1,800 feet, the pumps deliver the consistently moderate temperatures of underground water to the surface, where it works like a refrigerant. It carries energy.

“In the summer, you take the heat from the buildings and put it in the ground,” Ms. Burnley said. “In the winter, you take the relative warmth of the ground and put it in the buildings.”

By the standards of city life, General Theological is an ancient place, its buildings cast in soaring Victorian architecture, its land donated in the 19th century by Clement Clarke Moore, reputedly (but not certainly) the author of “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” By geological time, the seminary does not have the longevity of the wink of an eye.

As the first raw winds of winter belted along 10th Avenue this week, Ms. Burnley sat in her office on 21st Street and picked a small hunk of rock off a shelf.

“Feel the density of that,” she said.

It was a piece of 500-million-year-old Manhattan schist, cut from the ground below the seminary. The piece fit easily in the palm of her hand, but felt as if it weighed close to a pound.

“Drill through that,” Ms. Burnley said, “and you’ve got a well to the end of time.”

So far, General Theological has drilled seven wells to the end of time — or 150 to 180 stories deep, at least. The seminary has plans for 15 more. When the project is complete, it will be the largest system of geothermal pumps in the Northeast, said Carl Orio, the chairman of Water Energy Distributors, a consultant and contractor that worked on the project.

The seminary has about 200 students, most of whom are studying to become Episcopal priests. About five years ago, it commissioned a study on its physical plant, which was expensive to heat and impossible to cool.

“We wanted to come into the 21st century,” Ms. Burnley said. “We skipped the 20th century altogether. Thomas Edison himself wired this campus. We’ve got Edison Electric plaques all over the place.”

The initial plans did not call for geothermal pumps, but the seminary’s consultants recommended that they be considered. Conventional heating and cooling systems have a much lower installation cost, but require fuel. A study projected that the pumps would take about 9 years to pay for themselves after the entire system was installed. Now, the projection is 19 years.

“Because we’ve been here 200 years, this investment makes sense,” Ms. Burnley said. “It won’t be the five-year return on investment that businesses want, but that’s fine. We’re going to be around.”

To reach the 65-degree water, the seminary drilled far below the city’s Third Water Tunnel, which is about 500 feet down, and far below Cameron’s Line, the point where an oceanic plate smashed into the prehistoric North American continent.

The first phase of the project was estimated to cost $6 million, but ended up costing $9 million for heating and cooling capacity in 80,000 of the buildings’ 260,000 square feet, according to Dennis Frawley, who managed the project for the seminary.

The increase was almost entirely the result of monitoring demanded by various arms of 10 government agencies that were involved in oversight, he said. Some neighbors worried that the drilling would cause earthquakes. The city was particularly concerned about damage to its water tunnel.

“When we were first getting started, we had drilling companies that said, ‘You can start a well on 20th Street and by the time you get down 1,500 feet, you’ve drifted to 21st Street,’ ” Mr. Frawley said. “We were allowed 3 degrees of tolerance — we couldn’t drift more than 75 feet on 1,500. Some of our wells drifted 10 feet, some were 20 feet. The worst was a well that drifted 35 feet.”

Underground water in Manhattan flows generally to the south, said Frederick Stumm, a scientist with the United States Geological Survey who has done extensive mapping of the island to help the city plan the Third Water Tunnel.

“The rock has been sort of brutalized by continental collisions,” Mr. Stumm said. “The rock has been under stress over the years, and it creates patterns of fractures in the rock.” Ground water finds its way down into these fractures, which form a network.

And it’s not just water down there. “We encountered rubies at about 1,000 feet,” Ms. Burnley said.

The rubies, said Mr. Frawley, were formed into the rock. “Nothing in the way of a large scale,” he said. “We weren’t turning the seminary into the ‘Deadwood’ movie set.”

For precious gems, “it’s easier to go to Macy’s,” Ms. Burnley said.

E-mail: dwyer@nytimes.com

Types of earth-coupling loops

Three popular earth-coupling methods are most commonly employed throughout the geothermal industry.

All three options take advantage of the virtually limitless renewable energy that the earth provides. Each of these three methods have advantages and disadvantages, they are discussed below. To best understand theses options first consider the general approach to taking energy from OR returning energy to the earth. During the winter months we extract stored solar energy that resides in the earth. Approximately 50% of the solar energy that strikes the earth is stored in the waters of the earth. In the summer the relatively cool earth serves as a convenient sink for the excess energy from our homes and buildings.

Closed Loops, either horizontal or vertical (as shown) depend upon an antifreeze solution being returned to the earth and exchanging energy from the average New England earth temperatures of 50°F – in winter, a cold 30°F return solution will make the earth energy flow towards the well bore (CONDUCTIVE FLOW), warming the solution. The opposite energy flow occurs in the summer.

NOTES

Standing Columns, likewise, take advantage of the conductive heat transfer, but also augment their energy transfer capability by simply moving small amounts of stable earth temperature(50°F) water, “ADVECTIVE” flow. This stable temperature water is, typically located only 40-50 feet away from the bore.

Open to Re-circulation earth coupling methods simply take advantage of the stable ground water temperatures, within rock fractures or in porous earth and depend solely upon an ADVECTIVE flow into the borehole. High yield wells and a responsible method of retuning the water to the earth is required. This method is also known as a “doublet” earth coupling. As geothermal heat pump application grows each of these generalized methods have developed variants. This technical bulletin reviews the industry validated methods evaluated by third party agencies. These methods are available through the established Heating Ventilating & Air Conditioning (HVAC) infrastructure in the US and internationally. The International Standards Organization (ISO) has taken responsibility to evaluate geothermal heat pumps in its “standard ISO 13256”. Previously, the Air conditioning & Refrigeration Institute ( ARI), in the USA, had that responsibility. Today, ISO and ARI are overlapping with ISO taking the lead.

METHODS of GEOTHERMAL EARTH COUPLING

Estimated costs for complete earth coupling systems are typical and can be relatively ratio’d as material prices and location change. Note these typical costs relate to “tons” – a ” ton” is a nominal 12,000 BTU/Hr The average 1,800 – 2,500 square foot home is typically in the three (3) to five (5) ton range.

Open to recycle system

The open to recycle system shown here responsibly returns the water to the environment via surface water that is owned by the user. If a responsible surface water return to the earth is not available, a diffusion or reinjection well is drilled to return the water back into the earth. Wells are typically 6 inches in diameter. These wells are often also used for domestic and/or irrigation water and are built to domestic water well standards. Southeastern Massachusetts and Long Island NY typically employ diffusion wells for responsible return of the well water as the geology in these locations typically allows for this low cost, high efficiency method.

Typical closed loop

Closed Loops utilize high-density polyethylene pipe buried horizontally or vertically. The nonbiodegradable buried pipe is filled with an antifreeze solution, allowing lower solution temperatures to reach the heat pump. Temperatures can be well below freezing generating the need for an antifreeze solution rather than pure water to prevent freezing in the heat pump heat exchangers or piping. As the plastic piping creates another heat transfer barrier, earth water solution temperatures must be lower in the winter and higher in the summer.

Standing column well

Standing Column Wells are the most common in areas with near-surface bedrock and are employed in approximately 80% of the geothermal wells in the northeast. Often these geothermal wells are also employed for domestic and/or irrigation purposes. Domestic Standing Column wells are typically 6 inch rock bores with 8 inch casing pocketed into the bedrock to assure segregation of surface water from pure ground water. Well bore depths provide the design heat transfer required to satisfy the buildings dominant heating or cooling load.

A “bleed” systems provides the advective insurance that miscalculations in rock thermal characteristics, building insulation values not being achieved, weather extremes beyond Federal standards and the like can be mitigated. Small amounts of advective water drawn from the earth surrounding the borehole stabilize the well bore temperatures by drawing in constant temperature bedrock water from 40-50 feet away. Should additional bore temperature stabilization be required, an automatic “bleed” overflow of typically 5%-10% insures fresh and temperature constant water is drawn into the water column. Advective bleed periods are typically 30-60 minutes favorably changing the well bore temperature by 4-5 °F

Commercial Standing Column Wells may utilize larger diameter casings and bores.

Earth coupling options

Comparison of Methods:

EFFICIENCY

The Open/Recycling system takes constant temperature water, typically 50°F in New England, from the earth, reducing the return water temperature typically by 8°F in winter and typically increasing by 10°F in summer. As the source/sink water temperate remains unchanged throughout the year, this provides the highest efficiency of the three methods.
The Standing Column winter temperature is designed around a minimum of 45°F , entering water temperature (EWT) in winter and 60°F in summer (residential).

Closed loops are designed around 32°F, EWT in winter (with antifreeze solution) and 77°F in summer. We only condone food-grad propylene-glycol as the antifreeze solution of choice.
Third party efficiency evaluations have been performed by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI 325 & 330) and more recently by the International standards Organization (ISO). ISO 13256 standards are somewhat more conservative than the more dated ARI standards.

FIRST COST
Most often, the Open/Recycle method is realized in areas where there is abundant nearsurface water. Wells are not deep and pumping is achieved with modest pumping costs. If employed return wells are generally similar shallow depths and slightly larger, but also at low costs. Open wells are often in “unconsolidated” aquifers, loose gravel and sand, and require steel or plastic casing to maintain bore hole integrity. Casing is typically required in “overburden” and terminal moraine (where the glacier stopped) – SW Massachusetts, Cape cod, Long Island and Brooklyn are examples of deep moraine.

Standing Column Wells are employed when there is near-surface bedrock and require depths of 50 –100 feet of water column per ton (12,000 btu/hr) of heating of cooling requirement. (The typical home maybe in the 3 to 5 ton range). Well depths are deeper, consequent costs are higher. However, the cost of a return or diffusion well is not required as the return water to the earth is returned back to the same borehole. Typically, domestic water needs are met by the same well. This can positively effect “first cost” as the well can provide for both needs.
Closed loops are the most costly as bore depths are typically 150-200 linear feet of bore per ton for a heating dominated geothermal application (vertical application). For a cooling dominated, typical of a very large home or commercial, bore depths are in the 220 – 280 linear feet of bore per ton. Horizontal loops, including slinky, straight horizontal, and pond applications typically require 1,000ft or more of pipe per ton.

GEOLOGY

An Open to Earth recycling system requires large amount of water and a responsible return of the water to the earth where its energy is renewed by solar contribution. (Every 55 days, the waters of the earth absorb as much solar energy as all of the know oil and gas reserves in he world). Wells in the northeast are not often able to provide the high flow rates as required to utilize this beneficial method – and often a return or diffusion well is not practical. Under local or State environmental controls, return has been allowed to surface waters owned by the user. The geology south of Plymouth MA and Long Island NY can lend itself to this advantageous method.

A Standing Column Well system depends upon near-surface bedrock, this is defined as bedrock being within 150-200 feet of the surface. The bedrock provides enhanced heat transfer and requirement for costly steel/plastic casing to keep the borehole open in the “overburden” above the stable bed rock. Approximately 65% of the U.S. meets this criteria and approximately 80% of the northeast qualifies. The geothermal designer must know the rock types and densities and heat transfer characteristics of the rock.

Closed Loops, in a likewise manner, the designer must know the earth or rock types, moisture content and thermal characteristics of each to design an effective earth coupling method. Non-biodegradable plastic piping and earth coupling grouts are utilized in this earth coupling method. Non-toxic antifreezes and antifreeze additives must be employed in the plastic loops to prevent heat pump heat exchanger or loop freezing during winter operation.

MAINTENANCE

Each of the three methods should check their “liquids” every 1 ½ to 2 years.
The Open Systems and Standing Column Well systems are often employed in conjunction with domestic water systems and should be maintained in a sterile state at all times. Any open well system, whether used for a heat pump or only domestic, should be free of harmful bacteria (e.g. fecal coliform) should be checked periodically. Iron bacterial (e.g. ganlionella) is not harmful to humans and is often man-induced. The iron bacterium causes “red-brown” deposits in toilet bowels and in pipes. If the deposits are not controlled, pipes can eventually become occluded. Geothermal heat pump heat exchangers are not effected, as they are copper-nickel alloy and are heated well above bacterial killing temperatures (>130°F) during air conditioning periods.
Closed Loop systems can develop oxygen entrainment and can react with the antifreeze solutions and their additives to develop and acid concentration. These are easily checked with litmus or other pH evaluation methods. Some closed loop systems have automatic make-up water devices in the event the loop should develop a leak. These systems must be periodically verified for proper antifreeze concentration and pH (Acid activity).

REGULATORY

Open to recycle to geothermal earth systems have been in the northeast for over 60 years and as a result have been the most regulated. Our oldest knowledge is a geothermal well water system in New Haven CT, installed in 1938. For Open to recycle and Standing Column Well systems, Federal and related State regulations involve permitting of water withdrawal, and responsible return of the water to the earth. Other regulations may apply to excessive withdrawal, return to navigable streams or rivers and other activities that may impact the water supply or quality.

Closed Loop systems designs are more recent, only being listed and evaluated by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), since 1988 (ARI 330). Most States are now starting to develop regulations on these systems. With some states still having no regulations relating to these earth coupling methods. Typical regulatory requirements include, certification of loop installers, abandonment plan filings, listing of antifreeze solution compounds including additives, and mapping of loop fields.

THERMAL STABILITY

Open to recycle systems are by definition thermally stable over a multiple year period. As the ground water at a constant temperature is employed and “new” thermally consistent water is employed there is no thermal change in the subsurface geology.

Standing Column Well systems change the earth temperature in a cylinder about the well column on an annual basis. The thermal effect is typically depleted 40-50 feet from the borehole column. Ten plus years of field tests have shown no annual change in the mean earth temperature in properly designed and implemented Standing Column Well systems. Should a Standing Column Well manifest a trend away from the mean earth temperature a small advective “bleed” or over flow (5%-10%) results in the rapid re-stabilization of the bore temperature, i.e. increased in winter and decreased in summer.

Proper design must recognize geologic thermal characteristics, relative heating and cooling loads and adequate spacing of multiple Standing Column Wells. A standing column well can be up to 1,500 feet deep and develop 30 –43 tons of capacity. A 350-foot deep domestic use Standing Column Well can develop approximately 5 tons of heat transfer.

Typical spacing is 50-75 feet for multiple Standing Column Wells. Closer spacing can reduce bore hole heat transfer due to thermal interference between bores. Design compensation is necessary when faced with closer spacings.

Close Loop Systems do not have the ability to “bleed” or otherwise introduce fresh water into the loop bores to re-stabilize the earth temperature surrounding the plastic loops. As such, the closed loops are then most sensitive to annual thermal effects. Absolute annual earth moisture minimums must be considered and will impact responsible closed loop designs. Field test have shown long term earth temperature increases in commercial installations.

Typical spacing of closed vertical loops are 15-20 feet apart with 6-inch bores with, 300–450 foot depths, providing 1 ½ to 2 ½ tons per bore hole. Closed loop bores are often grouted with bacteria free Bentonite clay or other type grouts to enhance heat transfer to the earth

The road not taken

Michael and I stopped at Robert Frost's farm in Derry, New Hampshire on Saturday after attending a few days of training workshops to become dealers for ClimateMaster Heat Pumps.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

more on Robert Frost

Quote of the day

Redistribution of wealth is like cannibalism - once we agree that it is OK to eat someone else the debate switches from whether or not we should eat someone to who should we eat last.

Code Sec. 48. Energy Credit

(a) Energy credit.
(1) In general.
For purposes of section 46 , except as provided in 1 2 paragraphs (1)(B) , and (2)(B) , (3)(B) , and (4)(B) of subsection (c) , the energy credit for any taxable year is the energy percentage of the basis of each energy property placed in service during such taxable year.
(2) Energy percentage.
(A) In general. The energy percentage is—
(i) 30 percent in the case of—
(I) qualified fuel cell property,
(II) energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(i) but only with respect to periods ending before 3 January 1, 2017, 4
(III) energy property described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), and
(IV) qualified small wind energy property , and
(ii) in the case of any energy property to which clause (i) does not apply, 10 percent.
(B) Coordination with rehabilitation credit. The energy percentage shall not apply to that portion of the basis of any property which is attributable to qualified rehabilitation expenditures.
(3) Energy property.
For purposes of this subpart, the term “energy property” means any property—
(A) which is—
(i) equipment which uses solar energy to generate electricity, to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar process heat, excepting property used to generate energy for the purposes of heating a swimming pool,
(ii) equipment which uses solar energy to illuminate the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed sunlight but only with respect to periods ending before 6 January 1, 2017,
(iii) equipment used to produce, distribute, or use energy derived from a geothermal deposit (within the meaning of section 613(e)(2) ), but only, in the case of electricity generated by geothermal power, up to (but not including) the electrical transmission stage, 7
(iv) qualified fuel cell property or qualified microturbine property, 8 9
(v) combined heat and power system property, 11 12
(vi) qualified small wind energy property, 14 or
(vii) equipment which uses the ground or ground water as a thermal energy source to heat a structure or as a thermal energy sink to cool a structure, but only with respect to periods ending before January 1, 2017,
(B)
(i) the construction, reconstruction, or erection of which is completed by the taxpayer, or
(ii) which is acquired by the taxpayer if the original use of such property commences with the taxpayer,
(C) with respect to which depreciation (or amortization in lieu of depreciation) is allowable, and
(D) which meets the performance and quality standards (if any) which—
(i) have been prescribed by the Secretary by regulations (after consultation with the Secretary of Energy), and
(ii) are in effect at the time of the acquisition of the property.

16 Such term shall not include any property which is part of a facility the production from which is allowed as a credit under section 45 for the taxable year or any prior taxable year.
(4) Special rule for property financed by subsidized energy financing or industrial development bonds.
(A) Reduction of basis. For purposes of applying the energy percentage to any property, if such property is financed in whole or in part by—
(i) subsidized energy financing, or
(ii) the proceeds of a private activity bond (within the meaning of section 141 ) the interest on which is exempt from tax under section 103, the amount taken into account as the basis of such property shall not exceed the amount which (but for this subparagraph) would be so taken into account multiplied by the fraction determined under subparagraph (B).
(B) Determination of fraction. For purposes of subparagraph (A), the fraction determined under this subparagraph is 1 reduced by a fraction—
(i) the numerator of which is that portion of the basis of the property which is allocable to such financing or proceeds, and
(ii) the denominator of which is the basis of the property.
(C) Subsidized energy financing. For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “subsidized energy financing” means financing provided under a Federal, State, or local program a principal purpose of which is to provide subsidized financing for projects designed to conserve or produce energy.
(b) Certain progress expenditure rules made applicable.
Rules similar to the rules of subsections (c)(4) and (d) of section 46 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990) shall apply for purposes of subsection (a).
(c) 17 Definitions.
For purposes of this section—
(1) Qualified fuel cell property.
(A) In general. The term “qualified fuel cell property” means a fuel cell power plant which—
(i) has a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 kilowatt of electricity using an electrochemical process, and
(ii) has an electricity-only generation efficiency greater than 30 percent.
(B) Limitation. In the case of qualified fuel cell property placed in service during the taxable year, the credit otherwise determined under subsection (a) for such year with respect to such property shall not exceed an amount equal to 18 $1,500 for each 0.5 kilowatt of capacity of such property.
(C) Fuel cell power plant. The term “fuel cell power plant” means an integrated system comprised of a fuel cell stack assembly and associated balance of plant components which converts a fuel into electricity using electrochemical means.
(D) Termination. The term “qualified fuel cell property” shall not include any property for any period after 20 December 31, 2016.
(2) Qualified microturbine property.
(A) In general. The term “qualified microturbine property” means a stationary microturbine power plant which—
(i) has a nameplate capacity of less than 2,000 kilowatts, and
(ii) has an electricity-only generation efficiency of not less than 26 percent at International Standard Organization conditions.
(B) Limitation. In the case of qualified microturbine property placed in service during the taxable year, the credit otherwise determined under subsection (a) for such year with respect to such property shall not exceed an amount equal $200 for each kilowatt of capacity of such property.
(C) Stationary microturbine power plant. The term “stationary microturbine power plant” means an integrated system comprised of a gas turbine engine, a combustor, a recuperator or regenerator, a generator or alternator, and associated balance of plant components which converts a fuel into electricity and thermal energy. Such term also includes all secondary components located between the existing infrastructure for fuel delivery and the existing infrastructure for power distribution, including equipment and controls for meeting relevant power standards, such as voltage, frequency, and power factors.
(D) Termination. The term “qualified microturbine property” shall not include any property for any period after 22 December 31, 2016.
(3) Combined heat and power system property.
(A) Combined heat and power system property. The term “combined heat and power system property” means property comprising a system—
(i) which uses the same energy source for the simultaneous or sequential generation of electrical power, mechanical shaft power, or both, in combination with the generation of steam or other forms of useful thermal energy (including heating and cooling applications),
(ii) which produces—
(I) at least 20 percent of its total useful energy in the form of thermal energy which is not used to produce electrical or mechanical power (or combination thereof), and
(II) at least 20 percent of its total useful energy in the form of electrical or mechanical power (or combination thereof),
(iii) the energy efficiency percentage of which exceeds 60 percent, and
(iv) which is placed in service before January 1, 2017.
(B) Limitation.
(i) In general. In the case of combined heat and power system property with an electrical capacity in excess of the applicable capacity placed in service during the taxable year, the credit under subsection (a)(1) (determined without regard to this paragraph ) for such year shall be equal to the amount which bears the same ratio to such credit as the applicable capacity bears to the capacity of such property.
(ii) Applicable capacity. For purposes of clause (i) , the term “applicable capacity” means 15 megawatts or a mechanical energy capacity of more than 20,000 horsepower or an equivalent combination of electrical and mechanical energy capacities.
(iii) Maximum capacity. The term “combined heat and power system property” shall not include any property comprising a system if such system has a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts or a mechanical energy capacity in excess of 67,000 horsepower or an equivalent combination of electrical and mechanical energy capacities.
(C) Special rules.
(i) Energy efficiency percentage. For purposes of this paragraph , the energy efficiency percentage of a system is the fraction—
(I) the numerator of which is the total useful electrical, thermal, and mechanical power produced by the system at normal operating rates, and expected to be consumed in its normal application, and
(II) the denominator of which is the lower heating value of the fuel sources for the system.
(ii) Determinations made on Btu basis. The energy efficiency percentage and the percentages under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be determined on a Btu basis.
(iii) Input and output property not included. The term “combined heat and power system property” does not include property used to transport the energy source to the facility or to distribute energy produced by the facility.
(D) Systems using biomass. If a system is designed to use biomass (within the meaning of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 45(c) without regard to the last sentence of paragraph (3)(A) ) for at least 90 percent of the energy source—
(i) subparagraph (A)(iii) shall not apply, but
(ii) the amount of credit determined under subsection (a) with respect to such system shall not exceed the amount which bears the same ratio to such amount of credit (determined without regard to this subparagraph ) as the energy efficiency percentage of such system bears to 60 percent.
(4) Qualified small wind energy property.
(A) In general. The term “qualified small wind energy property” means property which uses a qualifying small wind turbine to generate electricity.
(B) Limitation. In the case of qualified small wind energy property placed in service during the taxable year, the credit otherwise determined under subsection (a)(1) for such year with respect to all such property of the taxpayer shall not exceed $4,000.
(C) Qualifying small wind turbine. The term “qualifying small wind turbine” means a wind turbine which has a nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts.
(D) Termination. The term “qualified small wind energy property” shall not include any property for any period after December 31, 2016.
Effective Date: (Sec. 105(b) Div B, HR1424, 10/3/2008) effective for periods after 10/3/2008, in tax. yrs. end. after 10/3/2008, under rules similar to the rules of Code Sec. 48(m) (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990).

The following paragraph is not part of the Section 48 tax code, but outlines a change in the depreciation period for geothermal heat pumps that will follow as a result of their new status as “energy property:”

Section 168(e)(3)(B)(vi)(I) provides that any property which is described in Section 48(a)(3)(A) as Energy Property is 5-year depreciable property. GHPs placed in service after October 3, 2008 would therefore be subject to a 5-year depreciation period. GHPs owned by a public utility may also qualify as 5-year MACRS property on account of the flush language in Section 168(e)(3)(B) of the Code.

source

Geothermal installation south of Boston

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H.R. 1424 tax credits for geothermal installation

President Bush last week signed into law H.R. 1424, which includes the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (the Act). The Act contains a number of tax incentives for renewable energy and other energy activities, including the much-anticipated extension of the production tax credit (PTC) and investment-based energy tax credit (ITC) sunset dates. Notable provisions include:

PTC EXTENSIONS
Geothermal, Biomass, and Other Qualifying Facilities. The Act extends the placed-in-service sunset date for closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, trash, and qualified hydropower facilities to December 31, 2010.

ITC MODIFICATIONS
A 10% credit for geothermal heat pump system property (equipment that uses the ground or ground water to heat or cool a structure). Under transition rules, the ITC for combined heat and power systems, qualified small wind energy facilities, and geothermal heat pump systems generally applies only to property placed in service after October 3, 2008, and for self-constructed property, only to the extent of the basis attributable to the period after October 3, 2008.

OTHER PROVISIONS
Residential Energy Credit. The Act extends through December 31, 2016 the 30% residential energy credit available to individuals for expenditures for qualified solar electric property, qualified solar water heating property, and qualified fuel cell property. The Act removes the $2,000 cap on the credit for solar electric property but does not modify the other applicable caps, effective with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008. The Act expands the credit to apply to qualified small wind energy property and to qualified geothermal heat pump property, subject to certain caps (effective with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007 for property placed in service on or before December 31, 2016). The Act provides that the credit may be used against AMT liability, effective with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

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Bailout bill directly affects geothermal heat pump industry!

YES! There is great news in store for the geothermal heat pump industry.

Whether you were for or against the signing of this $700 billion bail out bill, it's happened, and here's how it's going to affect the geothermal heat pump industry:

The Homeowner:
A residential tax credit of up to $2000 per household, through the year 2016, is available.


Buildings and Businesses:
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act provides a new 10% investment tax credit for commercial geothermal heat pumps.

In addition to the new tax credits, geothermal heat pumps are now classified under federal renewable energy provisions with solar, wind, and others. This will have long-term implications for the industry. Why? $18 billion of tax incentives for investment in renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration demonstration projects, energy efficiency and conservation has been earmarked.

Despite the free fall in housing prices nationwide, green homes are still red hot

Newsweek, March 8,2008

The predominant color in the building industry right now is red, not green. America's housing markets remain in free fall, as the foreclosure crisis continues and more homeowners discover their mortgage debt exceeds the value of their house. Last year the average home builder laid off a quarter of its employees; this year the industry estimates it will sell just 632,000 new homes, its lowest total since 1992. But amid this gloom, there's buzz about consumers' shifting demand toward "green homes"—and how builders with this expertise remain busy despite the bust. In a 2007 survey by the National Association of Home Builders, home buyers said they'd be willing to spend an additional $8,964 on a home if it could cut their utility bills. Throughout the industry, there's a sense that consumers have finally reached a tipping point. "It's taken almost as a fait accompli, that green building is where the market is headed," says Michelle Moore, senior vice president at the U.S. Green Building Council.

The House passes energy bill to Senate

WASHINGTON — Offshore oil drilling, which has dominated energy debates in the U.S. presidential campaign, is now coming to the Senate.

The House late Tuesday approved on a 236-189 vote legislation that would open waters 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to oil and natural gas development -- if the adjacent states agree to go along.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, where Democratic leaders are expected to mold it to their liking in the next few days...

"How much new drilling do we get out of this bill? It's zero. Just zero," declared House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio. "It's a hoax on the American people. This is intended for one reason ... so the Democrats can say we voted on energy."

The bill would not share royalties from energy production with the adjacent states, which Republicans said would keep states from accepting any new drilling off their beaches. Republicans also cited Interior Department estimates that 88 percent of the 18 billion barrels of oil believed to be in waters now under drilling bans would remain off-limits because they are within the 50-mile (80-kilometer) protective coastal buffer.

Freedom isn't free: one vet's message

From John McCain's speech:

America, stand up. Stand up. Stand up!
And fight.
Nothing is inevitable here.
We're Americans.
And we never give up!
We never quit!
We never hide from history.
We make history!

ClimateMaster donates geothermal systems to Habitat for Humanity development

Systems by Oklahoma City-based ClimateMaster are helping make Hope Crossing "green.” ClimateMaster is donating geothermal systems for all of the eventual 215 homes in the addition, which was developed at NE 83 and Kelley Avenue by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.

"ClimateMaster has stepped up to the plate in a big way and I'm very appreciative to them for their generosity and the active role they have taken in supporting this project,” said Ann Felton, chairman of Central Oklahoma Habitat.

McCain's VP pick: Sarah Palin - energy governor!

Energy is one of the two industries in Alaska. Your ordinary Alaskan walking around on the street knows more about oil companies, oil production and environmental issues (remember Valdez) than just about anyone in Washington who does not specialize in the subject. A big chunk of income for all Alaskans comes from oil revenue.

Palin has specialized in energy, first heading the state board in charge of oil concerns and then as Governor - a governor that got a $30 billion with a pipeline to carry natural gas to Canada through, one that Alaska has been trying to build for 30 or so years.


More on energy from Sarah Palin:

What, on a real practical level here, the GOP has got to do, though, between now and the election, is to convince Americans that it is our energy policy that is best for our nation and the nation's future, that if we are to become energy independent and if we are to become a more secure nation then we had better start supplying our very, very hungry markets across the nation with American supplies of energy. And up here in Alaska we're sitting on billions of barrels of oil. We're sitting on hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of natural gas onshore and offshore. And it seems to be only the Republicans who understand that companies should be competing for the right to tap those resources, and get that energy source flowing into these hungry markets so that we will be less reliant on foreign sources of energy. In a volatile world, relying on foreign regimes that are not friendly to Americans, asking them to ramp up resource production for our benefit, that's nonsensical.

The GOP agenda to ramp up domestic supplies of energy is the only way that we are going to become energy independent, the only way that we are going to become a more secure nation. And I say this, of course, knowing the situation we are in right now — at war, not knowing what the plan is to ever end the war we are engaged in, understanding that Americans are seeking solutions and are seeking resolution in this war effort. So energy supplies and being able to produce and supply domestically is going to be a big part of that. And the GOP agenda is the right agenda in that respect, but the GOP is going to have to prove to Americans in following weeks that we can safely, responsibly and ethically develop these resources. That, of course, has been a problem for the GOP. And a problem up here in Alaska. We have state lawmakers serving time in prison right now... other lawmakers whom the FBI is probing right now... because they have been found, some, to be corrupt in oil and gas issues, having taken bribes. That does not bode well for the GOP. And that's gotta change.

With her selection she reminds us that the American political system was set up by our founders to be run by ordinary citizens who aren't necessarily professional politicians.

Candidates' Energy Solutions Crucial to Vote

Sixty-nine percent of Americans say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports establishing tax incentives to encourage energy conservation.

Heat fusing geothermal pipes

Geothermal GSHP advantages

The great advantage to geothermal ground source heat pumps is they can be used in many locations. Even snowy regions such as Norway and Sweden see efficient results when using ground source heat pumps.

A geothermal heat pump can be very efficient in providing your home with a source of low cost hot water. The use of a ground source heat pump with a backup boiler allows your boiler to use less energy to heat the water than it would have previously. This can save you significant amounts of money on energy bills for your home or business.

It's really all about the oil (this time)...

In May 2005 democratically-elected Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvilli, along with the Azerbaijan Republic, Turkey and Kazakhstan inaugurated the Caspian BP Pipeline transporting one million barrels per day. This is (was?) the only pipeline bypassing Russia's control bringing fuel to Europe.

The BTC pipeline project cost an estimated $3.7 billion, with BP as operator. The pipeline was officially inaugurated at the Sangachal terminal, near Baku, by President Ilham Aliyev of the Azerbaijan Republic, President Mikhail Saakashvilli of Georgia and President Ahmet Sezer of Turkey, joined by President Nursaltan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan on 25 May 2005.

UPDATES from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Americans Join GOP on House Floor for Ongoing Energy Protest

Americans are sick and tired and not going to take it anymore!

"It was very inspiring," Steven Paull of New Mexico told CNSNews.com of the time he spent on the floor of the House chamber. "There definitely is an energy crisis, and I think it's affecting every American. “It's a shame (Pelosi) is out promoting her book and taking a vacation when there are a lot of her colleagues here trying to hold the flame ... and bring the message to the American people that we do have an energy crisis and we have to do something about it," he said.

Paull was in Washington to meet his daughter, Mary, who is wrapping up a summer internship. She told CNSNews.com that she thinks the Republican call for Pelosi to reconvene the House is not out of line.

"I think it's a really reasonable request, given that (the House) wasn't even supposed to adjourn until Aug. 11, and it just seems rather suspicious that she's out going on a book tour," Mary said. "As long as we can just have some debate, let them vote – I think that's a rather reasonable message."

Mae Milton of North Carolina brought her 14-year-old son to Washington so that he could see how government works. She told CNSNews.com that the protest was a surprise, but a good experience for her son. She added that she thinks Congress should pass a comprehensive energy plan that includes offshore drilling and developing domestic energy resources."

Absolutely," Milton said. "We don't need to depend on anyone else (for energy resources.)"

14 Massachusetts communities invest in wind

Wind turbines atop a mountain in the Berkshires could soon help four area communities meet their power needs.

Municipal utilities in Ipswich, Marblehead, Peabody, and Wakefield, along with those in 10 other communities, recently teamed with a nonprofit corporation to acquire the assets of a planned 15-megawatt wind farm on the summit of Brodie Mountain in the western Massachusetts town of Hancock.

The wind farm, the first in the state to be owned collectively by a group of municipal utilities, would provide enough power to supply 6,000 homes, according to the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., the nonprofit that is partnering with the local utilities.

Home heating crisis looms in Massachusetts

According to the Boston Globe, oil prices have nearly doubled since last year, and

natural gas rates have also increased since last year, the most dramatic hike has been in the cost of heating oil, which is up 81 percent. Of the country's 8 million households that heat with oil, 1 million are in Massachusetts.

McCain says we need geothermal!

Patriots display guts in Congress

While the Democrats are off on their 5-week vacation (a luxury ill-afforded to the average American) the Republicans are ignoring Nancy Pelosi's stubborn refusal to take up a comprehensive energy bill by staging a protest, and now the Democrats, including Mr. Obama are on the defensive.

Meeting Monday in the Capitol by the Will Rogers statue, the American humorist who ridiculed Congress as bumblers and bunglers, they plotted a week of protests on the House floor where Republicans are blasting the Democrats for skipping town without taking up a pending energy bill.

The Democrats have "shuttered the U.S. House of Representatives for a five-week vacation while ignoring the No. 1 issue weighing down our economy and the budgets of American families — high gas prices," said Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri.
And it wasn't just the Pelosi Democrats who found themselves under a barrage of political fire on the issue. Barack Obama was being pounded this week by John McCain for not demanding that his party return to take up an "all of the above" energy bill that would reduce oil prices and lower the cost of gas here at home.

That means encouraging alternative energies like wind, solar, biofuels and geothermal, Mr. McCain lectured the freshman senator. But it also means "we need more nuclear power. It means we need clean coal technology. And that means we need to offshore-drill for oil and natural gas. We need to drill here and we need to drill now," the Arizonan said Monday.

"And anybody who says that we can achieve energy independence without using and increasing these existing energy resources either doesn't have the experience to understand the challenge we face or isn't giving the American people some straight talk," he said.

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Slinky earth loop installation

Geothermal heating and cooling

Ground Source Heat Pumps offer great benefits:

• Simultaneously heat & cool different parts of the same building
• Very quiet--users do not know when the system is operating
• Can be set up in multiple zones, with each zone having an individual room control
• Greater freedoms in building design due to 50-80% less mechanical room space
• No outside equipment to hide, eliminating vandalism and roof top units
• Pipes have 50-year life expectancy
• All electric, which eliminates multiple utility services
• Expel boiler and chiller maintenance
• Ground heat exchanger is maintenance free and will last 40+ years

GSHPs offer great savings:

• Very competitive on initial costs and lower lifecycle costs than most HVAC systems.
• Savings of 25-50% on energy consumption
• Lower peak demand, lowering your operating costs
• Water heated with waste heat from air conditioning at no cost in the summer and at substantial savings in the winter
• Some utilities offer rebates or incentives to their customers who purchase GSHPs. To see what your state has to offer click here.

GSHPs are environmentally friendly:

• Conserve natural resources by providing efficient climate control and thus lowering emissions
• Minimize ozone layer destruction by using sealed refrigeration systems, which seldom or never have to be recharged
• Use underground loops to transfer heat, with no external venting and no air pollution
• Very energy efficient, with the earth providing over 70% of the energy required to heat and cool

Wonder why Congress' approval ratings are down to 14%?

How about a huge disconnect with the American people?

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Sunday strongly criticized Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for not allowing a vote on a measure that would allow
offshore drilling.

While acknowledging that Pelosi can prevent such a vote, Blunt said the Democratic leader would have to live with that decision, which he argued “does not make sense to the American people.”

“When we’re talking about offshore, we’re talking about 50, 100, 200 miles offshore,” Blunt said on CNN’s “Late Edition.” “Nobody's going to see that. This is an environmentally safe thing to do.”

Earlier in the program, Pelosi had stated in a pre-taped interview that she would not allow such a vote.

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T. Boone Pickens | a man with a plan

www.pickensplan.com

Crisis then, crisis now?

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."

-Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

Minuteman Murphy News

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
Contact: John Clapp

Date: July 10, 2008
For Immediate Release

STILLWATER, OKLA. - Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems use modern technologies to harness the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence, the earth. Michael Murphy of Minuteman Murphy LLC in Boston, MA is now accredited by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) to HARNESS THE EARTH'S ENERGY FOR YOU. Hard work and extensive preparation has allowed Murphy to give this community the opportunity to experience GSHP technology.

continued

Environmentally-friendly residential housing growth!

According to the US National Association of Home Builders, environmentally-friendly residential housing will make up 10% of the market by 2010, to the tune of $38 billion.

What is a ground source heat pump?

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are electrically powered systems that tap the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the earth. These systems use the earth's relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and commercial buildings.

How do ground source heat pumps work?

Ground source heat pumps can be categorized as having closed or open loops, and those loops can be installed in three ways: horizontally, vertically, or in a pond/lake. The type chosen depends on the available land areas and the soil and rock type at the installation site. These factors will help determine the most economical choice for installation of the ground loop.

For closed loop systems, water or antifreeze solution is circulated through plastic pipes buried beneath the earth's surface. During the winter, the fluid collects heat from the earth and carries it through the system and into the building. During the summer, the system reverses itself to cool the building by pulling heat from the building, carrying it through the system and placing it in the ground. This process creates free hot water in the summer and delivers substantial hot water savings in the winter.

Open loop systems operate on the same principle as closed loop systems and can be installed where an adequate supply of suitable water is available and open discharge is feasible. Benefits similar to the closed loop system are obtained.

Listen, the wind!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Some frequently asked questions

How does a GSHP system heat water for my home? Using what is called a desuperheater, GSHPs turn waste heat to the task of heating hot water. During the summer, when the system is in cooling mode, your hot water is produced free as a byproduct of the thermal process. In winter, with the heating mode, the desuperheater heats a portion of your hot water. Desuperheaters are standard on some units, optional on others. Stand-alone systems that will heat water all year around can be purchased.

How much space does a GSHP unit require? Most of a GSHP installation is underground. Inside the house, the heat pump units are about the same size as a traditional heating and cooling unit.

How long will my GSHP system last? GSHPs are durable and highly reliable. The GSHP contains fewer mechanical components, and all components are either buried in the ground or located inside the home, which protects them from outside conditions. The underground pipe carries up to a 50-year warranty.

How noisy is the GSHP unit? GSHPs are very quiet, providing a pleasant environment inside & outside of the home. GSHPs have no noisy fan units to disturb outdoor activities, on or near the patio.

How safe are GSHPs? GSHP systems are safe and protected. With no exposed equipment outdoors, children or pets cannot injure themselves or damage exterior units. GSHPs have no open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks.

What about comfort? A GSHP system moves warm air (90-105(F) throughout your home or business via standard ductwork. An even comfort level is created because the warm air is moved in slightly higher volumes and saturates the building with warmth more evenly. This helps even out hot or colds spots and eliminates the cold air blasts common with fossil fuel furnaces.

James Hook & Co. Fire Boston | May 30, 2008

I took this video at 7:30am on Friday morning as the flames engulfed this old Boston landmark built in 1925. 60,000 lbs of lobster flambayed.




June 2nd Update: 5-foot golden lobster weathervane discovered by firemen.

Geothermal = elegant simplicity & maintenance free operation

Did you know that the ground below us maintains an average year-round temperature here in New England 0f 50 degrees? Why not tap into that resource and start saving on your monthly home fuel bills?

Utlizing a simple closed-loop design (either vertical or horizontal, depending on one's home blueprint), geothermal system tubes are guaranteed for up to 50 years, and the heat pumps are virtually maintenance free.

Good energy stewardship isn't merely environmentally sound, it's patriotic! Start your own Boston Tea Party, and call us today.

Geothermal Closed Loop Systems - Vertical

Vertical Loops are used extensively where land area is limited. A pair of pipes with a special U-Bend assembly at the bottom are inserted into a bore hole that averages between 150 to 250 feet in depth per ton of equipment.

Geothermal Closed Loop Systems - Horizontal

Horizontal Loops are installed in areas where the soil conditions allow for economical excavation. Taking up more land area than any other loop type, they are used where space permits. Trenches are normally 5 feet deep. Normally, several hundred feet of trench is required.

Gracie swims in Southie (and Duxbury)!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Yellow House

There is more to painting a house than paint!

Preparation is key. Attention to details, teamwork and competitive pricing make Minuteman Murphy the best value around.

Home in Norwell - painted by Minuteman Murphy.

Promises Kept, Hull - March 26, 2008

Amazing Gracie

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Find a need and fill it!

We're a company designed to put hard-working vets with varied skills and trades to work. We offer complete services from estimates to completion in a value-friendly, time-efficient way. If you have need of demolition, carpentry, roofing & gutters, hardscaping, landscaping or other day labor work, give us a call or email.

Proverbs 16:3 says Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.