Tag: HVAC

Melink Solar & Geo Awarded U.S. Department of Energy Grant

Posted on by Melink Solar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Why it Matters

Cincinnati, Ohio — Melink Solar & Geo, Inc., a solar PV and geothermal engineering company, has been awarded grant funding by the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE). The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) specifically provided the grant funding. The funding enables Melink to accelerate the research and development of its next-generation Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. This system stores energy using thermal batteries. It can potentially reduce installation costs of geothermal heat pump systems. In effect, providing significant energy saving opportunities for the U.S. with widespread implementation. The system’s prototype currently heats and cools Melink’s new Net-Zero Energy HQ2 facility in Milford, Ohio.

Melink Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System
Melink Solar & Geo has been awarded an innovation grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for its Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. A system prototype is in operation at its Milford, Ohio, headquarters.

“Our company is developing a Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System to minimize the need for expensive ground loops. Instead, we are mimicking the thermal energy storage capacity of the water inside such ground loops with phase change materials (PCM),” said Steve Melink, founder and CEO. “Melink is piloting the first prototype at our Net-Zero Energy headquarters, and we are now developing next-generation prototypes for eventual commercialization. With our third U.S. Department of Energy grant, we are committed to mainstreaming this technology for the benefit of the entire HVAC industry.”

Hard Work Pays Off

The funding is part of an ongoing innovation project with the DOE. The project encourages small businesses to advance innovation at federal agencies. Melink received the recent funding as a result of its Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. This system demonstrated technical feasibility during the first phase of research. Melink Solar & Geo’s skill team worked collaboratively with the University of Dayton, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and industry partners. Together, we designed a more cost-effective and energy efficient HVAC system.

“Funding from the DOE is the result of a multi-year effort. A group of intelligent and highly dedicated people have proven that the system has merit. I’m excited to say that the Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System is just one part of our growing platform of Net-Zero products,” said Seth Parker, vice president and general manager of Melink Solar & Geo.

The two-year funding will be used to finalize engineering and early commercialization of the Hybrid Geothermal HVAC System. For more information about the system or Melink Solar & Geo, please visit https://www.melinksolar.com/geothermal or contact geo@www.melinksolar.com.

About Melink Solar & Geo

Melink Solar & Geo is a national provider of renewable energy and efficiency solutions for commercial buildings. We provide consulting services and turnkey management of solar and geothermal projects. These services help businesses of all sizes reduce energy consumption and produce clean and sustainable energy for their facilities. The company recently opened a Zero-Energy building on its campus, featuring new thermal storage technologies being tested. This will help further mainstream geothermal HVAC for commercial use. Melink Solar & Geo is affiliated with Melink Corporation, which provides energy efficiency solutions for commercial buildings.

Major Company Invests in Geothermal HVAC, Legitimizes Revolutionary Heating & Cooling Approach

Posted on by Melink Solar

Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory X, formerly known as Google [X], revealed one of its newest projects in July: a geothermal HVAC startup known as “Dandelion” that will focus on using innovative drilling techniques to deliver residential geothermal systems. We couldn’t be happier to see one of the world’s largest and most technologically influential companies showing substantial interest and
shedding light on an industry we’ve been working in for years. Geothermal HVAC systems provide a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution than conventional heating and cooling systems, and the world is taking note.  While Dandelion focuses  on residential applications, the same benefits can be seen on an even larger scale in a commercial setting. Have you recently been tasked with replacing an existing HVAC system or deciding what system to install in a new building? If so, you owe it to yourself to get ahead of the industry curve and consider installing a geothermal heating and cooling system. Beyond the system being a better solution for the environment, you will save 25-50% on HVAC energy costs, reduce system maintenance and water usage and extend your equipment life.

 

At this point you’re probably wondering how this type of technology works. Most Geothermal HVAC systems are installed underground as a large heat exchanger via a closed-loop water circuit. In other words, there is a large network of pipes buried underground which circulate a working fluid that exchanges heat with the ground. For cooling, the system transfers heat from the building to the ground; and for heating, the system transfers the heat from the ground to the building. Since the ground maintains a constant temperature of 55-70 degrees depending on your location, a geothermal HVAC system can cut traditional heating and cooling costs in half by being more efficient.

At Melink, we offer innovative and customized solutions that range from individual services to our full turnkey project deliveries which take your system from concept to completion and include financing, design, installation and commissioning services. Interested in learning more? Click here for our FAQs or contact Geo Project Engineer Connor Donovan at cdonovan@www.melinksolar.com.