HYDRONICS
GEOcomes of age | TECHNOLOGY AND ACTIVISM |
BY TED J. CLUTTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
association plying the halls of government, seeking recognition for the renewable energy, efficiency and environmental benefits its members have to offer. GEO — the Geothermal Exchange
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Organization — is the reincarnation of the former Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, a government/ industry partnership that was
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Dan Ellis, chairman of the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO), and president of ClimateMaster Inc.
primarily aimed at utility support for demand-side energy conservation programs during the 1990s. “With recent political upheavals in
Washington and with the growth of geothermal heat pump installations in the United States to approximately 100,000 units per year,” says ClimateMaster Inc. president and GEO chairman Dan Ellis, “major equipment manufacturers, distributors and utilities saw the need to refocus Consortium activities toward industry advocacy.” “The current economic and
political environment will have significant impacts on the geothermal heat pump industry for the foreseeable future,” says WaterFurnace International president Tom Huntington. “We must aggressively educate our elected and professional officials about the benefits of geothermal heat pumps as they consider renewable energy legislation and regulatory policies.” Geo-Enterprises president and
CEO Phil Schoen agrees, “By working together, we can secure new opportunities to help grow our industry.” Indeed, a major GEO accomplishment was a 30% federal tax credit for residential geothermal heat pump installations and a 10% break for commercial uses in the latest federal energy bill. Both credits will remain in force until 2016 and have helped the industry to survive, and even to thrive, during the recession. “GEO’s government affairs and outreach strategies are more
here’s a kid with a fresh face on the block in Washington, D.C. — a non-profit trade
important than ever to knocking down barriers to growth of the geothermal heat pump industry,” says Enertech Manufacturing president Steve Smith. GEO works in four primary areas
of outreach to elected officials, government agencies and the public. Advocacy GEO’s legislative and regulatory goals include: •Qualification of geothermal heat
pumps in pending renewable energy and climate legislation •Development of model
geothermal heat pump policy, legislation and regulations • Support of government agencies
and initiatives for geothermal heat pump research • Accelerated installation of
geothermal heat pump systems in government buildings • Coordination of grassroots
advocacy for the geothermal heat pump industry by GEO members
Partnerships GEO actively seeks strategic
alliances with allied organizations, institutions and agencies to pursue benefits for the industry, especially: •Development of joint positions
regarding federal and state legislation and regulations • Collaboration with electric
utilities to promote geothermal heat pump installation programs •Work with the U.S. Department
of Energy on design and installation standards and methods for monitoring geothermal heat pump efficiency
Public outreach GEO’s public education efforts
include GeoExchange® branding and
a public awareness campaign, including: • Education of regulatory officials
and legislators about the unique renewable energy advantages of geothermal heating and cooling, and the need for continued installation tax credits •Organization of — and
participation in — legislative renewable energy education events at the federal and state levels • Encouragement of news media
coverage about geothermal heat pumps and industry issues by publications, radio and television • Presentations about geothermal heat pumps at venues beyond the
industry, including conferences, trade shows, workshops and business meetings •GEO’s toll-free information
consumer hotline, its information- packed website and the unique online GeoExchange Directory.
Quality standards GEO works with the International
Ground Source Heat Pump Association and other allied organizations to promote codes and standards for geothermal heat pump installation training, certification and accreditation. GEO is also actively seeking government and university partnerships for geothermal heat pump efficiency and standards research and development. Current issues of importance
include potential climate legislation and a nationwide Renewable Energy Standard. “We want to make sure that geothermal heat pumps are recognized for the peak power use they can save by renewable heat exchange with the earth,” says Gulf Power (Southern Co.) marketing manager Keith Swilley. GEO offers it members the
opportunity to assist the association’s efforts with a grassroots legislative action team and annual training on the most effective ways to educate elected and appointed officials. A bimonthly e-mail newsletter keeps members informed about legislative issues and industry news and periodic Action Alerts help members educate their local political representatives. Members also receive the
following: GEO Outlookmagazine, produced by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association; listing in the association’s online GeoExchange® Directory; exclusive use of the GeoExchange trademark and logo and access to the online GeoExchange Forum, a popular platform for discussions about geothermal heat pump systems and installation. GEO membership is open to all
companies, businesses, commercial and non-profit organizations and entities involved in the geothermal heat pump industry. More information can be found online at
www.GeoExchange.org or by phone at 888/255-4436.;
ed J. Clutter is GEO vice president of marketing and membership services. He can be reached by e-mail at
tclutter@geoexchange.org or by phone at 509/758-2289.
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phc february 2011
www.phcnews.com
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