IGSHPA Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD Plus) Training

Enrolling in this course gives you immediate access to the online course materials. We will also put a welcome packet in the mail that includes a full set of IGSHPA manuals, a DVD, and additional research volumes. On the day your course begins, a live human being will give you a welcome call to make sure you get the most out of the class. After the course ends, we’ll provide detailed instructions for applying to sit for the CGD Exam.

Our goal for this class is for you to earn your Certified GeoExchange Designer Certification. Most of our time will be spent teaching you what you need to know to pass the exam. But getting the paperwork and application process figured out is almost as important. Let's take a moment before we start to make sure you get that right. One of two things will happen after you pass the exam: 1) If you get approved by AEE, then you'll be a CGD, or 2) If you need more experience, you'll be a CGD-in-training. So the important takeaway is that you can do the application in parallel - no need to wait before studying and taking the test.

Geothermal Systems are relatively simple to design, but smart and experienced engineers need to understand a few key concepts before they jump into it. This week’s discussion lays the groundwork for a smooth transition into the geothermal industry. Topics covered include: CGD overview, review of GSHP concepts, components & operation, configuration options, advantages & disadvantages.

Doing a feasibility study is a practical first step to take on any commercial geothermal project. Even if there’s not a budget set aside for anything extensive, there are some simple first steps that will pay off down the road by setting realistic expectations for the client and the team. Topics include: understanding engineering duties, feasibility studies, overview of operating cost calculations, system pre-modeling, understanding site characteristics & coupling options, FTC testing, manifolding options, and installation logistics.

This week we will review energy modeling in buildings. We will cover the different methods for estimating building loads and review options for calculating accurate system sizing. We will show you how to calculate system sizing by hand using formulas, then review some software options available for simplifying the process.

This week will consist a few optional reading assignments to give everyone a chance to catch up and be on the same page. Starting next week we will begin our webinar sessions where the difficulty level in the material will ramp up a bit.

This week we we will cover ground loop heat transfer fluids.

Most engineers eligible to sit for the CGD already have a solid grasp of mechanical systems. This week’s lesson helps to identify key areas of focus for geothermal systems – including equipment configurations, performance and proper selection.

This is the meatiest part of the course because this is what makes a geothermal system unique, and there’s so much to learn. In this week's lesson we’ll make sure you really understand how to properly design the ground heat exchanger.

We've been covering a lot of complex material in the past few weeks. Please take this chance to catch up or re-watch the videos to make sure you understand the information and are ready to continue building on it.

Now that you understand how to properly select equipment and design the ground heat exchanger, it is time to learn how to connect the inside system to the outside. In this week’s lesson, we will discuss ground loop headering, interior manifolding options, interior piping design and circulating pump selection.

Once the system design in put on paper, you need to know how to verify that the system goes in as specified. In this section we discuss best practices for quality assurance, quality control and loopfield commissioning.

Wow – we just covered a lot of ground. Let’s take a deep breath and look back at what you’ve learned over the past nine weeks. What have you learned and what still needs to be clarified? This week we have a study guide and practice test to make sure you pass the CGD Exam.

As great as this course is, you'll never remember everything you learn. We'd like to provide the resources you'll need on an ongoing basis - stay in touch and use these things as a lifeline when you need them.