Whats the most frugal path to a/c in my workshop in Mississippi?

[newbury]

Background -
Workshops

The workshop in the right of center is 40x60 and has an apartment across the back which is about 15x60.
The workshop on the far right is about 30x60 and has insulated walls and ceiling


I've put a 12K BTU window in the apartment and it cooled it down a bit last summer but I knew it wouldn't put a dent in cooling the two workshops on the right.

But at this writing (February 13th) they are at about 38F inside.

I've read a couple of threads on here about using geothermal heat pumps (GHP), but they were primarily focused on heating.

I'd like to get some form of cooling to handle the 30x60 insulated shop.

I've got LOTS of land on two sides of the building.

Are there any forum members using GHP primarily for cooling?

What are the economics of GHP for cooling a 30x60 shop to maybe 80F when it's 100F outside?

Do you think I could dig the necessary ditch with my Woods BH70X versus renting a mini-ex for $1K?

Thanks

 

[George2615]

I have 2 garages. Both are insulated. 1st is 24'x24', 2nd is 18' x 32' attached to back of 1st by a 7'H x 12'W opening. I use 2 big window AC's I mounted in the side walls of each garage. the 24'x24' has a 14,500BTU (220V) AC and the 18'x32' has a 12,000BTU. On an 85 deg. summer I can cool both garages to about 70-75 deg. if I keep the doors shut. These two units work fine for me but I have less than 1200 Sq Ft. Your 1800 Sq Ft may need three or four windows AC's to keep you comfortable in summer. Window AC's can be reasonable if you get them on sale. A lot cheaper than a GHP.

 

[PastTense]

You might consider redesigning your workshops so that you do the bulk of your work in a much smaller shop which you have air-conditioned and use ceiling fans in the big areas.

 

[tallyho8]

With all those uninsulated garage doors it would take a minimum of two 24,000 BTU window units to do a fair job in 100 degree heat in Mississippi. A lot also depends on how the sun hits it and if it is in any shade.

Sorry, I can't help you with geothermal.

 

[JakeBrake]

You might call Doug Rye. He's based in Little Rock, Arkansas which is not far from your place in North Mississippi. Doug is big on geothemal and he speaks fluent Southern.

Official Website of Doug Rye

 

[s219]

Cooling is a piece of cake for a geothermal system. It will cost more to put in a geo system versus standard heat pump/AC system, but there is a tax credit (30%) you might qualify for, which offsets much of the cost difference.

 

[grsthegreat]

before i went to the trouble of installing 2-3 window units, id look at the split pump systems there selling nowdays. they work both heat and cool. heat pumps.

heck even home depot is selling them up here.(or at least their fronting for people that do install them)

 

[MacLawn]

Welcome to Mississippi! A great place to retire. I'd also check on the Japanese wall mount split heat pumps, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, etc. I've used those in Japan for 33 years, they work great! But, I'd also try to see if I could maybe divide the huge space to just cool a part of it. The geothermal units are great too, but initial cost, whew! I don't like window units. Too noisy, take a window, etc. Also use ceiling fans - blowing down in summer, sucking up in winter, they help! Problem is, most people don't know about changing air direction and leave them blowing down all year - no good.

 

[LAFarm]

Background -
Workshops
View attachment 360523
The workshop in the right of center is 40x60 and has an apartment across the back which is about 15x60.
The workshop on the far right is about 30x60 and has insulated walls and ceiling
View attachment 360522

I've put a 12K BTU window in the apartment and it cooled it down a bit last summer but I knew it wouldn't put a dent in cooling the two workshops on the right.

But at this writing (February 13th) they are at about 38F inside.

I've read a couple of threads on here about using geothermal heat pumps (GHP), but they were primarily focused on heating.

I'd like to get some form of cooling to handle the 30x60 insulated shop.

I've got LOTS of land on two sides of the building.

Are there any forum members using GHP primarily for cooling?

What are the economics of GHP for cooling a 30x60 shop to maybe 80F when it's 100F outside?

Do you think I could dig the necessary ditch with my Woods BH70X versus renting a mini-ex for $1K?

Thanks

For starters, my shop is 30 X 60 X 12 and I have it conditioned with a gshp. Dug horizontal loops, 1 with woods bh70x and other with ditch-witch. trencher was much faster! Keep a couple feet separation between loop lines and about 4' of coverage in the South. I am easily able to keep my shop around 80 when outside is around 100. My geo unit has a hot water generator that puts waste heat into my cordless electric water heater tank (never connected the electricity to the tank) for hot water supply in shop. The geo unit is an older EER 15 model that was in my home before I upgraded to a new EER 22 model. New one is much quieter! Shop is fully insulated and am gradually finishing interior walls with 3/4" plywood and installing an additional 8" of fiberglass batts between plywood and existing fiberglass insulation. GHP in shop is only 24000 btu, so it kind of falls behind when I have to leave the roll-up door open for any amount of time. Before I installed it, working in shop during summer was pretty rough. Louisiana can be hot and very humid. Have been told that it only takes 2 to 3 weeks to "acclimate" to a new environment. Not true. I've lived here all my life and I ain't "acclimated" yet!!! My shop elect bill (on separate meter from home) runs around 50 to 60 dollars a month in the summer. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, just very satisfied with gshp in my situation.

 

[newbury]

Well thanks for all the replies about window units, but I don't have any windows.

LAFarm - could I get more details about your system?

For starters, my shop is 30 X 60 X 12 and I have it conditioned with a gshp.

Reads like a match.

Dug horizontal loops, 1 with woods bh70x and other with ditch-witch. trencher was much faster! Keep a couple feet separation between loop lines and about 4' of coverage in the South.

What is the length? Pipe size and type? I was concerned about getting it deeper.

I am easily able to keep my shop around 80 when outside is around 100.

That's one of my goals

My geo unit has a hot water generator that puts waste heat into my cordless electric water heater tank (never connected the electricity to the tank) for hot water supply in shop.

Great idea!

<snip> Shop is fully insulated and am gradually finishing interior walls with 3/4" plywood and installing an additional 8" of fiberglass batts between plywood and existing fiberglass insulation.

What do you figure is the tradeoff for an extra 8" of insulation? Seems a little like overkill.

GHP in shop is only 24000 btu, so it kind of falls behind when I have to leave the roll-up door open for any amount of time. Before I installed it, working in shop during summer was pretty rough. Louisiana can be hot and very humid.

Again reads like my situation.

Have been told that it only takes 2 to 3 weeks to "acclimate" to a new environment. Not true. I've lived here all my life and I ain't "acclimated" yet!!! My shop elect bill (on separate meter from home) runs around 50 to 60 dollars a month in the summer. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, just very satisfied with gshp in my situation.

Sounds great.