Case Study—Feasibility of Energy Piles in a Cooling-Dominated Climate in Mexico

This paper presents a case study that assesses the feasibility of using energy piles for space conditioning in a residential building in a cooling-dominated climate in Mexico City (Mexico). Considering the soil stratigraphy and the foundation characteristics previously defined in the structural and geotechnical design, analytical models were used to simulate the long-term performance and thermal interaction of the energy piles. Different operating modes (scaled load distribution and discontinuous operation) were analyzed. From the above, the maximum thermal energy that the geothermal system can provide was determined. The results of the analytical simulation indicate that energy pile implementation could be an economical and environmentally friendly solution for the increasing energy demand for space conditioning in Mexico. However, non-balance heat extraction–injection cycles (unbalanced thermal loads) should be carefully examined to prevent ground overcooling.