IGSHPA Certified Residential Geothermal Designer
About this course
FEES NOT INCLUDED: Fees for the IGSHPA test, IGSHPA membership, and CSA standards are not included with this course fee. When you finish the course and want to take the exam, you'll need to pay $350 for the testing fees, 3-year IGSHPA membership, and individual copy of the CSA Standards. These are required by IGSHPA and the fees we collect go directly to IGSHPA.
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Course outline
8 modules • 79 assignments • 10 - 12 hours to complete • 6:13 hours of video lectures
Welcome • 13 assignments
Orientation Materials
- Introduction to Geothermal Designer Boot Camp (05:09 minutes) Preview
- Download Slides From Video Lessons (.pdf)
- Order: IGSHPA's HeatSpring Course Manuals
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- LoopLink Introduction (05:43 minutes)
- Register for a free LoopLink design software license
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
- Reviewing Fundamental GSHP Concepts (11:31 minutes) Preview
- Review of Heat Pumps (18:05 minutes) Preview
- Ground Connection Methods (21:00 minutes) Preview
- Take your Skills Assessment Quiz 1
- Optional Reading: 'How Ground/Water Source Heat Pumps Work' (.pdf)
- Optional Reading from the IGSHPA Manual
Module 1 • 9 assignments
Building Loads, GHP Hot Water Generation Options, Energy Modeling
- Learning Objectives for Week 1 (.pdf)
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- OPTIONAL - Download Powerpoint Slides from Week 1 (.pdf)
- Building Loads, Hot Water Generation Options, Energy Modeling (11:32 minutes)
- Domestic Hot Water Generating Options (19:28 minutes)
- Energy Loads and Heat Pump Performance (11:51 minutes)
- Take your Week 1 Quiz over GSHP Basics
Module 2 • 13 assignments
Understanding Equipment Performance & Equipment Selection Strategies
- Learning Objectives for Week 2 (.pdf)
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- OPTIONAL - Download Powerpoint Slides from Videos (Part 1) (.pdf)
- OPTIONAL - Download Powerpoint Slides from Videos (Part 2) (.pdf)
- Heat Pump Selection (12:39 minutes)
- GSHP Heating Performance (19:13 minutes)
- Performance Data for Single Capacity GSHP (29:37 minutes)
- Performance Data for Dual Capacity GSHP (09:56 minutes)
- Water-Water GSHP Sizing (11:12 minutes)
- HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: GSHP Selection (.pdf)
- Email your homework to Ryan
Module 3 • 11 assignments
Ground Heat Exchanger (GHEX) Design Basics
- Learning Objectives for Week 3 (.pdf)
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- OPTIONAL: Download Week 3 Powerpoint Slides (.pdf)
- GHEX Design Basics (16:47 minutes)
- General GHEX Design Procedure (21:45 minutes)
- Vertically-Bored GHEX Design (13:39 minutes)
- Horizontally-Trenched GHEX Design (11:13 minutes)
- HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: GHEX Design (.pdf)
- Email your homework to Ryan
Module 4 • 11 assignments
Head Loss Calculations & Interior Piping Design
- Learning Objectives for Week 4 (.pdf)
- Optional Reading
- Optional Reading
- OPTIONAL Download Week 4 Powerpoint Slides (.pdf)
- Interior Piping & Pumping Design (22:56 minutes)
- Head Loss / Pressure Drop (16:42 minutes)
- Head Loss Calculation Example (18:48 minutes)
- Design Tool - Head Loss Calculation Worksheet 1 (.pdf)
- Design Tool - Head Loss Calculation Worksheet 2 (.pdf)
- HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Perform Head Loss Calculations (.pdf)
- Email your homework to Ryan
Module 5 • 8 assignments
Interior Load Distribution + Beginning the Final Design Problem
- OPTIONAL - Download Week 5 Powerpoint Slides (.pdf)
- Interior Load Distribution (17:12 minutes)
- Water-to-Water Hydronic Applications (13:55 minutes)
- Supplemental Heat Options (12:10 minutes)
- Final Exam Part 1 (09:05 minutes) Preview
- Final Assignment - Multizone GSHP Selection & GHEX Design (.pdf)
- Final Assignment - Floor Plan (.pdf)
- Final Assignment - Equipment Schedule (Blank spreadsheet for you to fill out) (.xls)
Module 6 • 9 assignments
Submit Final Design Problem
- System Flushing & Purging Pipe Volume (12:24 minutes)
- OPTIONAL - Download Week 6 Powerpoint Presentation (.pdf)
- Final Assignment - Final Exam Part 2 (.pdf)
- Download GeoPro's Head Loss Calculation spreadsheet to complete the final assignment. (.xls)
- Final Assignment - Record Your Head Loss Volume Calculations Here (.xls)
- Final Assignment - Interior Piping Schematic (.pdf)
- Final Assignment - Exterior Piping Schematic (.pdf)
- Final Assignment - VFD Pump Curves (.pdf)
- Final Exam Review: Ryan will provide you feedback and let you know what you did well and where you might improve going forward.
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
- Ready to take the IGSHPA Exam?
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- 20 Professional Development Contact Hours
Instructor
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Ryan Carda
Principal Engineer, Dandelion EnergyRyan Carda is Principal Engineer for Dandelion. He is primarily responsible for design and engineering standardization, with a focus on optimizing the performance and lowering the cost of geothermal systems. Prior to that, Ryan co-founded Geo-Connections in 2004 and served as the company’s President until he sold the company to Dandelion. The products Ryan developed... Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How does this course work?
How long do I have access to the materials?
Is there a certificate of completion?
Can I register multiple people?
Does this course help me design geothermal systems for commercial buildings?
The CGD course is used to design geothermal systems for commercial buildings that have complex energy modeling needs. If the building requires an hourly energy analysis to account for variable schedules, then you need to take the CGD course.
This course uses the bin method to do less complicated energy usage calculations based on weather data. This works great for most buildings.