The Eldred Township supervisors passed an ordinance this month amending zoning regulations pertaining to ground source heat pumps.

During the public hearing, Robert Boileau, the chairman of the township’s planning commission, said these types of heating systems were not allowed in the township, except through a special exception from the zoning hearing board.

Michael Gaul, the township solicitor, said any resident who wanted to pursue this type of heating system was required to apply for a hearing before the zoning hearing board at a cost of $1,800.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps have three main components: earth connections subsystem, heat pump subsystem, and heat distribution subsystem.

The earth connection subsystem works by “using the earth as a heat source/sink, a series of connected pipes, commonly called a ‘loop,’ is buried in the ground near the building to be conditioned. The loop can be buried either vertically or horizontally. It circulates a fluid (water, or a mixture of water and antifreeze) that absorbs heat from, or relinquishes heat to, the surrounding soil, depending on whether the ambient air is colder or warmer than the soil.”

For heating, the heat pump “removes the heat from the fluid in the earth connection, concentrates it, and then transfers it to the building. For cooling, the process is reversed,” the DOE said. To distribute the heat, “conventional ductwork is generally used to distribute heated or cooled air from the geothermal heat pump throughout the building.”

Gaul said the township didn’t allow these systems because of a concern that the fluid could contaminate the groundwater if it leaked out. New technology has made them safer with a closed loop system to prevent leakage, and the fluid option is not toxic.

Gaul said the topic came up when a resident who wanted a geothermal system asked that the ordinance be reviewed. The township engineer looked at current regulations and reported back about the new, safer technology.

Gaul said the amendment allows systems as long as it meets specific conditions, such as being a closed loop system and requiring an inspection.

“It allows property owners to do more than they were allowed to before and do it without having to pay $1,800 and have a special exception hearing,” he said.

Kenneth Kerr, a meeting attendee, said he is knowledgeable in this field, but did not give his credentials.

Kerr gave a detailed explanation of how geothermal heat pumps and air source heat pumps work and the differences between them.

“My concern that what you don’t have in your ordinance, 1. Methanol is an extremely toxic fluid and it still can leak out through the ground. Grounding is a very tricky procedure, which I don’t know too many guys that can do it properly,” Kerr said. He went on to talk about his experience with leaking systems.

Amendment

The amendment does address the type of fluid that is allowed to be used in the system: only water or mixture of water and food-grade propylene glycol may be used as the circulating fluid unless a similarly inert fluid is approved for use by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

Kerr said he prefers a standing column geothermal systems, which uses a semi-open loop arrangement. He wanted to know why it was not included in the ordinance.

Gaul said the township engineer researched similar ordinances used by other municipalities. Boileau added that the planning commission also looked at the recommendations from the state and the Monroe County Planning Commission when developing this ordinance.

“There wasn’t a resource that we looked into that they didn’t all say closed loop systems,” Boileau said. “From a safety perspective, we have no choice, but to take the unanimous opinion of all of the resources.”

Bill Anderson, the resident who wanted to pursue thermal heating, said he has problems with the amendment.

“There is a 100-foot isolation distance to any structure. In regards to this system, that makes it 100% impossible to install a residential heating system,” he said. “How are you going to hook it to the house?”

Under C in section 503.18, the minimum isolation requirements state that the perimeter of the ground system heat pump subsurface loops, vertical and horizontal must be:

• 100 feet from any existing or proposed drinking water wells;

• 25 feet from any existing or proposed individual or community on-lot sewage disposal system including and primary or alternate drainfield sites;

• 25 feet from property lines, rights of way; and

• 25 feet from existing or proposed structures.

Anderson was also concerned about the section of the amendment that requires the ditch to stay open for inspection before it is buried. He thinks it’s a safety hazard.

Kerr agreed it’s a safety hazard and should be backfilled as it is installed, but then said, after Gaul questioned him on his statement, that the system should be tested for leaks before it is backfilled.

Hoffman asked Gaul if it would be possible to enact the ordinance and have the planning commission look into the points raised by Kerr and Anderson.

Gaul said that would be possible. Additional amendments can be passed if needed.