IGSHPA Geothermal Installer Accreditation

Online

Instructor: Ryan Carda

Subjects: Renewable HVAC: Geothermal, Renewable HVAC: IGSHPA Certification

Length: 10 modules

Student Rating

★★★★★
★★★★★

9.1 out of 10 (view ratings)
1,505 students have taken this course

Description

Offered in partnership with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA). This course is designed to prepare students to take the exam to become IGSHPA Accredited Installer.

This course is required to access some government incentives, some product distributors require it of their dealers, and some engineers restrict bid lists to IGSHPA Accredited installers and drillers. Quite simply, this is the foundational course for any serious geothermal professional.

Ready To Sign Up Today? Click Here to Enroll

Preview the Course Material

Check out a free preview of the course by clicking the button below. This is a live assignment from the course and will give you a good sense for what the course will be like.

Free Preview - Intro to Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Systems - Part 1
Certification Available Through the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (Ighspa)

After registering for the course you will be able to purchase your manual set from IGSHPA. The current pricing for manuals, IGSHPA membership, and testing fees can be found on the official IGSHPA website at igshpa.org. If you plan to purchase all three, expect the pricing for manuals, IGSHPA membership and testing fees to total ~$675 in addition to the HeatSpring enrollment fee on this page.

Get Listed As An Accredited Installer or Driller On Igshpa's Official Website

If you decide to join IGSHPA and pass the exam, your name and company information will be listed in IGSHPA's accredited professionals directory. This is an excellent way to get your name and your new credential in front of customers in your area that are already searching for help.

Flexible Online Training for Industry Professionals

This online course is self-paced. You can begin instantly upon enrollment.

Access Information and Build Your Training Library

After enrolling, the course materials will remain in your account and be accessible 12 months (1 year) after enrollment. Access can be extended beyond 1 year with a monthly membership. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world.

Earn A Certificate of Completion

When you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.

“

I was very impressed with the curriculum and the instructors. All of the textbooks and various materials you receive as well as the IGSHPA certification alone is worth the cost of the class. This is a great investment.

”

- Scotty Brown, Cal-Tech Well Pump & Compressor

“

Taking this course was well-spent money. The course instructors were the real McCoy, people that have worked in this industry and helped develop the technology behind it. I've recently taken some other courses put on by suppliers and they are nothing close to the HeatSpring courses.

”

- Stacey Raymond, Geotherm, Inc.

“

I think this class was an excellent prep for the test and made you feel confident.

”

- Robert Kaiser, DW Hunter HVAC

“

I enjoyed this course quite a bit. It was very informative and gave me a great understanding of exactly how geothermal works and all of the components that go into designing and installing a system!

”

- Matthew O'Reilly, Coneco Engineers & Scientists

+ Read more student ratings and reviews for this course

Instructor

Ryan Carda

Principal Engineer, Dandelion Energy

Ryan 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...[more]

Free Preview - Intro to Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Systems - Part 1

Course Outline

Welcome - Orientation Materials

This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

  • Introduction to HeatSpring (Video - 01:25 minutes) Preview
  • Set up email notifications and your student profile (Text)
  • Introduce yourself on the discussion board (Text)
  • Order IGSHPA Manuals [recommended not required] (Resource)
Module 1 - Introduction

This week covers the basics of geothermal systems.

  • HeatSpring's Geothermal Business Roadmap (Download .pdf)
  • Presentation slides (Download .pdf)
  • Intro to Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Systems - Part 1 (Video - 12:07 minutes) Preview
  • Intro to Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Systems - Part 2 (Video - 25:05 minutes)
  • Introduction (20 questions) (Quiz)
  • Reading: IGSHPA Installer Accreditation Versus Vertical Loop Installer (Driller) Accreditation (Resource)
Module 2 - Economics, Marketing and Demand Reduction

Doing a simple payback analysis is a practical first step to take on any geothermal project. There are some simple first steps that will pay off down the road by setting realistic expectations for your prospective client.

  • Presentation slides (Download .pdf)
  • Economics & Marketing - Part 1 (Video - 12:31 minutes)
  • Economics & Marketing - Part 2 (Video - 11:40 minutes)
  • Economics & Marketing - LoopLink Example (Video - 11:14 minutes)
  • Article: Geothermal Is A Safeguard Against Rising Energy Prices (Optional) (Resource)
  • Article: ASHP vs. GSHP Efficiencies (Optional) (Download .pdf)
  • Economics, Marketing, and Demand Reduction (10 questions) (Quiz)
Module 3 - Soils Identification

In ground heat exchanger construction, you must be able to identify the type of soil/rock where the installation will take place. First, the soil/rock type will affect the installation methods used. Secondly, the thermal properties of the soil/rock in the area will dictate how much ground heat exchanger piping will be needed. Supplemental lesson courtesy of GRTI.

  • Presentation slides (Download .pdf)
  • Soil/Rock Identification & Thermal Properties (Video - 26:00 minutes)
  • Supplemental Video Lesson - Direct Formation Thermal Conductivity Measurement (Video - 16:51 minutes)
  • Supplemental Video slides (Download .pdf)
  • Soil & Rock Identification & Thermal Properties (20 questions) (Quiz)
Module 4 - Selecting, Sizing and Designing the Heat Pump System

This lesson helps to identify key areas of focus for geothermal systems – including equipment configurations, performance and proper selection

  • Presentation slides - GSHP Performance (Download .pdf)
  • Presentation slides - GSPH Selection (Download .pdf)
  • GSHP Performance (Video - 23:20 minutes) Preview
  • GSHP Selection (Video - 17:52 minutes)
  • GSHP Performance - LoopLink Example (Video - 10:53 minutes)
  • Homework Assignment (Resource)
  • GSHP Performance & Selection (20 questions) (Quiz)
Module 5 - Designing the Ground Heat Exchanger

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.

  • Presentation slides - GHEX Piping (Download .pdf)
  • Presentation slides - GHEX Design (Download .pdf)
  • GHEX Piping (Video - 24:42 minutes)
  • Closed-Loop GHEX Design (Video - 21:56 minutes) Preview
  • Closed-Loop GHEX Design - LoopLink Example (Video - 18:49 minutes)
  • Homework Assignment (Resource)
  • GHEX Design (35 questions) (Quiz)
Module 6 - Grouting Procedures for Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems

Grouting is a critical part of vertically- and horizontally-bored GHEX installation. This module covers all necessary aspects of grouting—how, what, why and when—material courtesy of GeoPro, Inc.

  • Presentation slides (Download .pdf)
  • Proper Grouting Procedures & Technical Considerations - Part 1 (Video - 15:15 minutes)
  • Proper Grouting Procedures & Technical Considerations - Part 2 (Video - 12:01 minutes)
  • Proper Grouting Procedures & Technical Considerations - Part 3 (Video - 09:28 minutes)
  • Proper Grouting Procedures & Technical Considerations - Part 4 (Video - 15:42 minutes)
  • Homework Assignment (Download .pdf)
  • Homework Resource - Online Grout Volume & Cost Calculator (Resource)
  • Reading: Product Handling Guide (Optional) (Download .pdf)
  • Grouting Procedures (20 questions) (Quiz)
Module 7 - Pipe Joining Methods

Heat fusion (butt, socket, sidewall, and electrofusion) is the predominant method of joining plastic pipe in the buried portion of the ground heat exchanger. The loop installer should always consult with the pipe manufacturer for proper fusion procedures. This lesson reviews the basic procedures, necessary equipment, and items to be aware of in the heat fusion process, courtesy of Performance Pipe.

  • Performance Pipe Website (Resource)
  • Socket Fusion Procedures (Video - 09:16 minutes)
  • Butt Fusion Procedures (Video - 08:54 minutes)
  • Reading: Fusion Procedures & Qualifications Guide (Optional) (Download .pdf)
  • Fusion Procedures (20 questions) (Quiz)
Module 8 - System Installation

Now that GSHP system design is well understood, we will discuss the proper installation techniques to help you make sure that the system will work as well as it has been designed.

  • Presentation slides - Interior GSHP Installation (Download .pdf)
  • Presentation slides - Ground Loop Installation (Download .pdf)
  • Interior GSHP Piping Design & Installation - Part 1 (Video - 22:26 minutes)
  • Interior GSHP Piping Design & Installation - Part 2 (Video - 06:49 minutes)
  • Ground Loop Installation - Part 1 (Video - 16:27 minutes)
  • Ground Loop Installation - Part 2 (Video - 16:30 minutes)
  • System Installation (20 questions) (Quiz)
Module 9 - Flushing & Purging the System

Before a system can be placed into operation, it must be flushed and purged and the proper amount of antifreeze must be added. This lesson will also cover error detection techniques you can use to verify that the loops have been properly connected to the header.

  • Presentation slides (Download .pdf)
  • Flushing & Purging Procedures (Video - 15:33 minutes)
  • Error Detection & Antifreeze Volume (Video - 08:32 minutes)
  • Homework Assignment (Download .pdf)
  • Homework Resource - Antifreeze Volume Calculator (.xlsm) (Download .xlsm)
  • Flushing & Purging (15 questions) (Quiz)
Module 10 - Heat Pump System Startup and Checkout + GeoExchange Drilling: Project Costing & Bidding

With the design and install work complete, the last step in a successful project is to ensure that things are working as they should. This lesson gives an overview of the basic steps to take to check for proper system control/operation after startup and to help diagnose problems if they arise. The final lesson will cover the various business-related aspects of GeoExchange drilling. It provides an overview of the things to consider before placing a bid on a project.

  • Reading: How to Measure Forced-Air GSHP Efficiency (Resource)
  • Presentation slides (Download .pdf)
  • System Startup, Performance Checking & Troubleshooting (Video - 16:37 minutes)
  • Performance Checking (10 questions) (Quiz)
  • Homework Assignment (Download .pdf)
  • GeoExchange Drilling Considerations (10 questions) (Quiz)
Feedback and Additional Resources

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

  • 1 Year of Access to Course Materials (Text)
  • Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey (Survey)
  • Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member (Resource)
  • Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate (Certificate)
Free Preview - Intro to Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Systems - Part 1

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