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Nowadays, Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) are achieving significant efficiencies, mostly because of the development of their electromechanical components. However, concepts such as the technical performance of the grouting materials deserve more profound analysis, as becoming essential in areas where good potential thermal performance of the GSHP and serious risks of groundwater contamination exist. In this paper, several fluid mortars with enhanced characteristics have been evaluated. Results show improved mechanical and thermal properties compared to conventional grouting materials. Likewise, mortars exhibited good performance after being subjected to durability treatment. For now, the cost of some mortars may constitute a barrier.

Environmental goals such as the reduction of fossil fuel consumption or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the development of new renewable energy sources have led to the emergence of the so called asphalt solar collectors. Moreover, in recent years, engineers are devoting increased interest to the effect of the thermal loads on the mechanical behaviour of pavements. Several approaches to these topics can be found in the literature. However, a study of the influence of the colour degradation suffered by pavements on their thermal behaviour is still necessary since both the efficient application of the asphalt collectors and the proper study of the effect of the solar radiation on the asphalt pavement behaviour are directly affected by the loss of colour occurring as time goes by. Therefore, the thermal behaviour of two different asphalt mixes was studied before and after being subjected to a colour degradation process. The degradation of five different asphalt mixes was studied and the results were compared to those obtained in the access roads to seven low volume car parks. The final results show that there are large differences between the two asphalt mixes with different gradations and densities. The importance attributed by other authors to conductivity was also confirmed. Furthermore, the results showed that it was possible to simulate the early colour degradation suffered by a low volume road. Finally, a slight reduction in temperature and energy collection capacity was measured after the colour degradation process.

The concern about the massive use of the non-renewable and very limited fossil fuels together with the well-known effects of the global warming makes it more necessary the efficient use of the current forms of renewable energy generation. Because of the crucial role played by the grouting materials in the Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP), a proper selection of these elements should be made based on a deep knowledge of their performance. In this paper, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength and grout-pipe permeability of four different highly workable grouts have been tested before and after they were subjected to wet-dry and freezethaw durability treatments. Results obtained demonstrated the harmful effects of using a large amount of mixing water in grouts subjected to those extreme loads. However, the use of these type of grouts with very good workability is still possible in GSHP installations with balanced thermal designs provided that regular operational and environment conditions are considered.