Abstract: In some embodiments, a method operates a heat pump that uses a ground loop to perform heating or cooling in a site. During the operating of the heat pump over a time period: the method measures a first series of measurements of a ground loop water flow rate by the heat pump; a second series of measurements of a ground loop fluid temperature for the heat pump; and measures a third series of measurements of a local soil or deep earth temperature. The first measurement, the second measurement, and the third measurement are outputted where a ground loop thermal resistance value is calculated for the heat pump based on the first measurement, the second measurement, and the third measurement.

Abstract: A heat pump is equipped with a plurality of sensors configured to measure various physical properties, including but not limited to: (gas/liquid) temperature, (gas/liquid) pressure, electrical current, and/or flow rate. A monitoring center is interposed between the heat pump and other elements of a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, such as a building thermostat and a heat pump control board. The monitoring center receives the outputs from the sensors and communicates them to a user (e.g., via a wired or wireless interface) for inspection. The monitoring center may also process the sensor data to calculate and output desirable performance metrics such as efficiency and/or available capacity. Where the heat pump is part of a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system or a geothermal heat pump system, embodiments may be particularly useful to also receive and/or process additional sensor input(s) from a flow center component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for determining thermodynamic properties of buildings. In one embodiment, a method for determining a building UA-value comprises monitoring indoor and outdoor air temperature during a drift phase over a first time period, and monitoring a temperature control system run time during a second time period over which the temperature control system in the building restores indoor air conditions to an initial state at the beginning of the first time period. Additionally, an amount of heat energy change may be determined during the second time period. Embodiments may determine thermal resistance of the building from data obtained during over the two time periods, for example.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method operates a heat pump that uses a ground loop to perform heating or cooling in a site. During the operating of the heat pump over a time period: the method measures a first series of measurements of a ground loop water flow rate by the heat pump; a second series of measurements of a ground loop fluid temperature for the heat pump; and measures a third series of measurements of a local soil or deep earth temperature. The first measurement, the second measurement, and the third measurement are outputted where a ground loop thermal resistance value is calculated for the heat pump based on the first measurement, the second measurement, and the third measurement.