这些拟议的社区能源系统使用热泵进行加热和冷却，并使用一个供水系统将受控环境与地下蓄水层中的年度储能连接起来。冷却过程中排出的能量被储存起来用于加热。加热过程中产生的散热器用于冷却。为了使加热和冷却系统有效，使用热泵将能量提升到加热和冷却所需的温度。分析了四种不同的热泵-蓄能组合。它们与不同的环境和环境条件相匹配。总的来说，这些系统的节能潜力比目前加热和冷却的能源需求高出30%到80%。地下含水层系统由水可以流过的多孔介质组成。 储能由含水层系统中至少两口井控制。由于在一口井注入热水或冷水，冷水或热水以相同的速率从另一口井中抽出，因此净耗水量为零。冷负荷和热负荷的流向相反。井间温度梯度的移动是受控的。热交换的发生与其他多孔介质中的热交换类似，或者基本上是在井之间移动一个温度步。当流动发生逆转时，温度阶跃发生逆转，能量得到恢复，温度几乎没有降低。充足的含水层位于美国大陆60%以上的人口聚居区之下。建设受控含水层储能系统是一项主要的资本成本； 并联系统提高了整体可靠性。因此，当由社区和/或公用事业公司建造、控制和维护时，这些热泵系统最有效。对于不同类型的受控环境，从住宅到具有主要内部能源负荷和不同环境条件的大型建筑，每年的能源需求各不相同。对于加热能量不足的系统，可以以废热、太阳能或其他能源的形式添加额外的能量。对于加热能量过剩的系统，可以通过冷却塔去除能量。另一种方法是匹配负载。例如，内部负荷大、热能过剩的大型建筑可以与家庭住房相匹配。引用: 研讨会，ASHRAE交易，第86卷，第一部分，加利福尼亚州洛杉矶

These proposed community energy systems employ heat pumps for heating and cooling and use a water distribution system connecting the controlled environments with annual energy storage in underground aquifers. The energy rejected during cooling is stored for heating. The heat sink created during heating is used for cooling. To make the heating and cooling systems effective, heat pumps are used to upgrade the energy to temperatures required for heating and cooling. Four different heat pump-storage combinations are analyzed. These are matched to different environments and ambient conditions. In general, the systems show energy-saving potentials of 30% to 80% over present day energy requirements for heating and cooling.An underground aquifer system consists of a porous medium through which water can flow. The energy storage is controlled by a minimum of two wells in an aquifer system. As hot or cold water is injected at one well, cold or hot water is withdrawn from the other well at the same rate, resulting in zero net water consumption. The flow direction is reversed for cooling and heating loads. The temperature gradient movement between wells is controlled. Heat exchange takes place similar to that in other porous mediums or, basically, a temperature step moves between the wells. When the flow is reversed, the temperature step reverses and the energy is recovered with little temperature degradation.Adequate aquifers are located under more than 60% of the populated areas of the continental U.S. Construction of a controlled aquifer energy storage system is a major capital cost; paralleling systems increases overall reliability. As a result, these heat pump systems are most effective when constructed, controlled and maintained by a community and/or a utility.For different types of controlled environments, from homes to large buildings with major internal energy loads and different ambient conditions, the annual energy demands vary. For systems with heating energy deficiencies, additional energy can be added in the form of waste heat, solar energy or other energy. For systems with excess heating energy, energy can be removed with cooling towers. An alternative method is to match loads. For example, large buildings with major internal loads and excess heating energy can be matched with family housing.