Energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of low depth geothermal heating and cooling for non-residential buildings.

Energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of low depth geothermal heating and cooling for non- residential buildings. In the study the performance of low depth geothermal heat exchangers is analyzed for five building projects. The measurement results are compared with the German standard of the VDI 4640. The analysis shows that the specific power given in the standard is not achieved and the annual heating and cooling energy per meter borehole is quite low. In order to achieve an economic cooling or heating price, the exact dimensioning of the geothermal heat exchanger is a major criterion. As it is shown in the economic studies, only the systems with a very low invest are profitable. An increase of operating hours with a preferably high specific power is vitally important for a viable use of low depth geothermal energy in an ecological and economical way.