Per Architectural Record, many colleges were traditionally heated by steam heat from fossil fuels. To reach climate goals, a growing number of schools are moving toward district energy systems based on geo-exchange (GEX) instead.
GEX leverages the fact that, below the frost line, the ground holds a fairly steady temperature (45-50 degrees F in the north; 50-70 degrees F in the south). Extra building heat can be conducted into the ground during hot weather and ground heat can be extracted when it’s cooler. Heat pumps/compressors amplify the temperature, producing heating/cooling to maintain comfortable indoor temperature. GEX is considered to be the most efficient, clean, cost-effective space conditioning available today.
GEX includes buried pipe loops, a heat pump and distribution pipes. Pipes can be laid horizontally or vertically, with bore holes used for vertical installations. The heat pump distributes fluid through pipes to stash/retrieve heat. The pipes deliver heating/cooling where needed. If clean electricity operates the pump, it’s a zero-carbon setup.
Many schools are exploring GEX. Princeton, the University of Toronto (UT) and Colorado Mesa (CM) have projects underway. Princeton’s new 1,200 bore GEX system (up to 850 feet deep) consists of two drill fields, one below playing fields, the other below a parking garage. Each field has a utility building that houses heat pumps, chillers and electrical equipment, also two tanks to store heated/chilled water ready for circulation. By 2046, all buildings will convert to GEX and other renewables.
At UT, a new 370-bore drill field (800 feet deep) below a parking garage will supply energy to replace steam heating for buildings on central campus. GEX is expected to cut emissions by ~15,000 metric tons of CO2/year. They are aiming for all buildings to be built with renewable energy.
CM adopted GEX in 2007. It now supplies 90% of the energy the campus needs, saves $1.5 Million in heating/cooling costs per year and has cut the carbon footprint by 17,750 metric tons of CO2 annually. It has saved CM $12 Million since 2008.
CM is also thinking about eventually sharing resources more broadly – to serve a high school being built across the street or a municipal swimming pool nearby. One day, a municipality could operate a GEX system to serve the entire community, similar to what is done today by water/sewer authorities or energy utilities.
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