Some Aspects of Green Buildings and Environment

[摘要] In the recent attempts to stimulate alternative energy sources for heating and cooling of buildings, emphasisehas been put on utilisation of the ambient energy from Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (GSHPs) and otherrenewable energy sources. Exploitation of renewable energy sources and particularly ground heat in buildings cansignificantly contribute towards reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Geothermal Heat Pumps (GSHPs), or DirectExpansion (DX) ground source heat pumps, are a highly efficient renewable energy technology, which uses the earth,groundwater or surface water as a heat source when operating in heating mode or as a heat sink when operatingin a cooling mode. It is receiving increasing interest because of its potential to reduce primary energy consumptionand thus reduce emissions of the Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). The main concept of this technology is that it utilisesthe lower temperature of the ground (approximately <32°C), which remains relatively stable throughout the year,to provide space heating, cooling and domestic hot water inside the building area. The main goal of this studyis to stimulate the uptake of the GSHPs. Recent attempts to stimulate alternative energy sources for heating andcooling of buildings has emphasised the utilisation of the ambient energy from ground source and other renewableenergy sources. The purpose of this study, however, is to examine the means of reduction of energy consumptionin buildings, identify GSHPs as an environmental friendly technology able to provide efficient utilisation of energyin the buildings sector, promote using GSHPs applications as an optimum means of heating and cooling, and topresent typical applications and recent advances of the DX GSHPs. The study highlighted the potential energysaving that could be achieved through the use of ground energy sources. It also focuses on the optimisation andimprovement of the operation conditions of the heat cycle and performance of the DX GSHP. It is concluded thatthe direct expansion of the GSHP, combined with the ground heat exchanger in foundation piles and the seasonalthermal energy storage from solar thermal collectors, is extendable to more comprehensive applications.

[关键词] Geothermal heat pumps;Direct expansion;Ground heat exchanger;Heating and cooling