Notes that commercial ground-source heat pump systems have been installed in a variety of configurations. Among the most common are groundwater, vertical ground-coupled and hybrid ground-coupled (with cooling tower). Reports on a comparison of the capital costs associated with the installation of these three designs. Based on the assumption of equal building loop costs, compares the costs associated with the ground-source portion of the system. Evaluates sensitivity of cost to a variety of factors including well depth, system capacity and soil or ground water temperature. Results indicate that shallow groundwater systems (60m/200ft) are the least-cost alternative.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, Heat pumps, commercial, costs, comparing, ground water, vertical, soil heat pumps