ABSTRACT
The application of groundwater cooling systems is quickly becoming an established technology in the United Kingdom with numerous installations having been completed for a wide range of building types, both new build and existing. The use of groundwater for cooling is therefore encouraged by the Environment Agency in areas with rising groundwater levels as a means of combating the problem. The use of heat pumps provides greater flexibility for heating and cooling applications within the building than passive systems. Heat is drawn out of the cooling circuit and the water is discharged into the Thames at an elevated temperature. In this instance, although the boreholes are more expensive than the dry air cooler alternative, the operating cost is significantly reduced as the system can operate at around three times the efficiency of conventional dry air coolers, so the payback period is a reasonable one.
