Objective Heat pumps use a "free" medium to either extract (heating) or inject energy (cooling). For each kilowatt of energy expended 4 kilowatts or more of heating or cooling power is provided. Significant reductions of energy cost (50%), fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions (6%) are possible. Using the ground as a heat source/sink has many advantages compared to other sources (air or surface water): the ground temperature is stable, it has very good thermal properties, is generally available, does not produce any noise and is constructed out of sight. The market potential of ground couplet heat exchangers in Europe has so far not been realised, due to several factors. Current design practice leads to too expensive or prohibitively sized ground loop systems. Fragmented knowledge and experience, some environmental considerations and uncertainty about actual system quality and performance further hamper implementation. This proposal is aimed at providing a technical and organisational framework to tackle these questions within the European context. Our aim is to provide new tools for design, design verification, and in site estimation techniques of critical design soil-parameters in regard to ground-coupled heat exchangers. These technological advances w Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energygeothermal energy Programme(s) FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002" Topic(s) 1.1.4.-5. - Key action Cleaner Energy Systems, including Renewable Energies Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme EAW - Exploratory awards Coordinator GROENHOLLAND BV EU contribution No data Address Valschermkade 26 AMSTERDAM Netherlands See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all TEMPERATURE LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Dewar Close, Segensworth PO15 5UB Fareham See on map Total cost No data