Issues related to ground-source heat pump green HVAC systems will be explored during ASHRAE’s annual meeting, officials announced.

Sessions related to ground-source technology will be held June 29-July 2 at the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ event in Seattle.

“There are a number of challenges that engineers face that are different from  conventional  HVAC systems, such as  ground coupling, working with drillers, the importance of annual  heating and cooling loads to ground heat exchanger design,” said Jeff Spitler, an ASHRAE member who helped create the program.  “This track addresses the entire design and installation process from site evaluation to commissioning and system operation. In addition, GSHP systems are inherently energy efficient, but poor choices in the design can compromise this inherent efficiency. What not to do is also addressed in the track.”

Details are available at www.ashrae.org/seattle.

The sessions were arranged by ASHRAE, the National Ground Water Association, the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association and the Geothermal Exchange Organization.