What is the GT-S?
Carrier introduced the industry to the first ever “outdoor” geothermal split system with internal pumping for residential applications.We are giving the consumer choices for unit location! The unit may be installed inside or outside, thereby satisfying the requirements of almost any home.When installed outside, the unit may be placed on an existing pad and easily connected to existing electric service. And with this installation option, the fluid loop remains outside avoiding extensive installation inside the home. The GT-S is geothermal without the hassle.
Why “Paradigm Shift”?
We have defined the paradigm shift as follows: to advance a model of technology beyond the familiar. But what do we mean? Essentially, our GT-S is taking traditional geothermal technology a step further by offering a unique split system design suitable for any home. Home owners can now enjoy all the savings of a geothermal system with lower installation costs and less hassle. More importantly, the GT-S is opening up the previously illusive retrofit market. Hence, our slogan “From Air to Water...”.The GT-S is a competitive product designed to shift traditional air source homeowners to the benefits of water source geothermal technology.
From the utility perspective, the GT-S just about perfectly embodies what the utility industry has been searching for in geothermal: Lower first cost, simple and easy to service, fits traditional dealer practices and broad market appeal especially for retrofit, etc. The GT-S can pull geothermal out of its high end niche into more of a mainstream segment.
The GT-S Concept
The GT-S provides a unique solution to many of the problems associated with single-package geothermal units. In addition, it substantially reduces overall installed costs and perhaps more importantly, opens up the largely untapped retrofit market (which, for conventional equipment, is over 3 times larger than the new construction market).
In new construction, the GT-S offers many benefits over packaged geothermal units:The fluid loop is kept outside, which keeps large diameter piping, flammable antifreezes and flushing carts (a large, messy service tool) out of the home.The outdoor compressor means noise and most service activity will remain outside.The indoor air handlers are quiet, require less space and allow less costly ductwork (they don’t have to be side return with canvas collars and plenum lining). Also, a GT-S can utilize a gas furnace as the blower and supplemental heat (dual fuel or add-on) which removes a major consumer barrier in that geothermal has traditionally forced the homeowner to make an all-electric home decision. An add-on application also allows the option of sizing the geothermal component to the cooling load, rather than heating, which may further reduce first costs.The GT-S should be able to tap a larger new construction segment than geothermal currently captures, even when marketed through existing geothermal dealers.
In the replacement market, the GT-S greatly expands the range of suitable geothermal applications. Current geothermal retrofits have required a complete change out of all existing equipment, elaborate ductwork modifications, complex routing of interior loop fluid lines including below grade foundation penetrations, upgraded electrical service and unit feeders (110v furnace being changed to 240v heat pump with electric backup), and more.This assumes that a geothermal package unit can even be adapted to fit into the existing space.This process is expensive and disruptive to the owner (they typically don’t want to change radically from what they have); hence the lack of geothermal retrofits existing. In contrast, the GT- S can be installed outside on the same line set and electric service supplying the existing air conditioner or heat pump condensing unit.The loop stays outside. Only the indoor coil might need to be changed on an existing furnace, or possibly the air handler on an older heat pump.The purchase timing could be driven by a first-time central cooling addition; the upgrade replacement of an aging or broken air conditioner, heat pump or furnace; an HVAC change necessitated by a renovation; or an efficiency upgrade driven by a utility marketing program.
