How to Heat Your House with Climate Change
Channel: The S&R Variety Show
Date: 2020-05-22

Using computer simulations, I show a new method of using geo-exchange to deliver heating to houses built in northern regions. This research shows that there is a potential to locally extract the heat (from climate change) that threatens to melt permafrost and use it to space condition buildings. I'm presenting my theory that a "Beneficial Ground Thermal Imbalance" can be employed in this field to reduce the negative effects of overheating frozen ground - and to consider the warming of northern climates as a potential thermal energy source - while delaying the negative impacts.

This video is a recording of my Master's Thesis defense (which was publicly online due to COVID-19) for the degree of Master's of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering. This thesis was accepted by the committee for submission without revision.

Not included in this presentation are my studies on geometric optimization, developing detailed soil material properties, building load simulations, and sizing the capacity of the in-ground heat exchanger. More details can be found in my thesis (link to be provided when published publicly). 

More information will be posted here: http://sarahnicholson.co/

Acknowledgements, lists of funding sources, industry partners, and contributions by colleagues are presented in the video and thesis document.

Thanks to my mom and sister for preparing this video for me! And to all my friends and family who have supported me so well throughout this research, I would not have survived without you.