Yes, I think it may become part of my hydronic heating system. I am sold on low temp radiant as the distribution method for my new addition project. It fits into passive solar so well and because I am building new designing for thermal mass floor is easier. So for me how to best heat water is next. Being a very high R structure heat demand should be low under 5,000 Btu/hr at highest. Easily supplied with just a high efficiency H20 heater of any type. Most economical for my location(rural elec COOP) would be offpeak hot water storage which I can have but not for space heat(long UL story). Heat pump is ideal efficiency method but $25-40K made my DIY blood boil. AC's work on DIY W/W GSHP is my dream. Pulling away the curtains from the Wizard of GSHP will benefit us all, clearing fact from fog.
I see a water buffer in place of your beta 55 drum as a heart a circulatory system that can gather "heat" from many sources(even recovered) think what your HP could do with even low grade solar hot water. It would really help with cycling(like pressure tank does) and I think make oversizing a ground loop not problematic(better to big than too small)(there may be as yet unknown enviro cost to +/- too much heat from ground - thermal pollution). Loop sizing is something that all dealer/installers I've talked to say must be "professionally" balanced.
For me "space" for any equip needs to be considered as much as $ cost, it is at a premium in small home design.
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