BY JIM HERRON, GENERAL MANAGER FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC
Heating and cooling has long been a major expense to all of us and something we strive to curtail through increased energy efficiency. Some have turned to renewable energy with the thought that the wind and sun are free sources of power; however, when we do the math, the cost of infrastructure often outweighs the savings.
A system that has come to the forefront, as both energy efficient and cost effective, is the geothermal heat pump. Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperature of the earth to exchange heat. According to Energy Star, they are the most environmentally safe and efficient heating and cooling option available. Rather than using underground heat, geothermal heat pumps capitalize on the steady temperature of the ground or deep water wells. In effect, they treat the earth like a giant energy saving bank, depositing or withdrawing heat depending on the time of year.
During the summer, the systems pump indoor heat underground and draw on the lower temperatures of the earth to cool a building. In colder months, the same process works in reverse, with heat from the ground being used to warm indoor air. However, they are more costly to install than conventional systems. Much of this cost comes from the drilling fees. But that investment can be recouped in five to 10 years, according to the website consumerenergycenter.org. We have witnessed this firsthand at Mountain View Electric Association, which is serves the areas east and north of Colorado Springs.
Several area schools and public buildings have opted for a geothermal system. The new Palmer Ridge High School in Monument installed the largest geothermal system in the state. The decision to use this type of system was made after the District 38 administration building was retrofitted and the cost savings was proven.
Other schools have followed suit. Calhan School recently completed its retrofit to geothermal and Miami-Yoder School is in the process of starting its project. The new Falcon Public Library decided on a geothermal system for its new facility, which opened on September 19. And, of course, the new MVEA Falcon Operations Center is heated and cooled by a geothermal system.
As you can see from this list of facilities, it is not only a new building that can benefit. Miami-Yoder and Calhan schools are older buildings. What makes it even more attractive to purchase this type of system is the energy efficiency credits paid to help offset the cost. Both MVEA and Tri-State Generation and Transmission, MVEA’s power supplier, pay rebates according to the size of the project. In the case of Calhan School, administrators also worked on getting grants to help defray the cost.
Calhan School, in its quest for energy efficiency, also did a retrofit of its lighting. Even its gym was refitted with T-5 fluorescent bulbs covered by wire guards. These lights come on instantly compared to the old halogen bulbs that took so long to warm up that the game could be over by the time they came on (a little exaggeration). The new lights allow different areas of the gym to be lit and are much more energy efficient and bright. The school also received energy efficiency credits from Tri-State to offset this portion of the project.
MVEA currently has 50 geothermal systems installed in residences throughout our system. Recent surveys from consumerenergycenter.org have found that homeowners using geothermal heat pumps rate them highly when compared to conventional systems. Figures indicate that more than 95 percent of all geothermal heat pump owners would recommend a similar system to their friends and family.