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GT-S
10
Carrier Indoor & Outdoor Split Geothermal Heat Pumps - Rev.: 08/10/05
What is the GT-S?
Carrier introduced the industry to the
fi
rst 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
fl
uid loop remains
outside avoiding extensive installation inside the home.
The GT-S is geothermal without the hassle.
Why “Paradigm Shift”?
We have de
fi
ned 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 retro
fi
t market.
Hence, our slogan “From Air to Water...”. The GT-S is
a competitive product designed to shift traditional air
source homeowners to the bene
fi
ts 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
fi
rst cost, simple
and easy to service,
fi
ts traditional dealer practices
and broad market appeal especially for retro
fi
t, 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 retro
fi
t market (which, for
conventional equipment, is over 3 times larger than
the new construction market).
In new construction, the GT-S offers many bene
fi
ts
over packaged geothermal units: The
fl
uid loop is
kept outside, which keeps large diameter piping,
fl
ammable antifreezes and
fl
ushing 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
fi
rst
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 retro
fi
ts have required a complete change
out of all existing equipment, elaborate ductwork
modi
fi
cations, complex routing of interior loop
fl
uid
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
fi
t
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 retro
fi
ts 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
fi
rst-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 ef
fi
ciency upgrade driven by a utility
marketing program.