What is IGSHPA?
Established in 1987, IGSPHA:
Advances thermal energy networked technology.
Certifies engineers, installers, and inspectors.
Supports geothermal and other thermal energy development.
This year, at IGSHPA’s annual conference, Vermont Community Geothermal Alliance attended sessions such as:
Utility Loop Ownership: Capturing the Earth’s Solar Energy for Utility Margins
Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment
Recruiting, Hiring, Training, and Retaining the Next Generation of Drillers
Resiliency Inherent In District GSHP systems
Our take-aways:
It’s all about balance.
Yes, networked geothermal is a big part of the solution, but we also need to be looking at thermal exchange, not just drilling. Where can we harvest heating? And balance that with cooling? For starters, think wastewater!Don’t forget single home installs.
Individual geothermal systems can play an important role in getting more buildings off of fossil fuels, especially in rural communities. And single home installations can even turn a profit for electric co-ops (to reinvest in protecting the grid and in more clean energy projects).The industry is growing.
How could we tell? This year’s conference doubled in size from last year. The manufacturers—all in the U.S.—are ready to supply equipment. The Department of Energy’s Geothermal and Loan Program Offices are working hard to access more federal funding.