NGWA completed its geothermal retrofit at headquarters in July that is expected to generate more than $250,000 in energy savings and a reduction of 640-plus tons of carbon dioxide over the next 30 years, according to design estimates.
Eighteen units (nine furnaces and nine air conditioners) were replaced by nine geothermal units that are housed in the lower level of the 15,970-square-foot building in Westerville, Ohio. The drilling and loop installation phase for the 20-borehole vertical closed loop system was completed in the fall 2023 by Jackson Geothermal of Mansfield, Ohio. The internal conversion was completed by Federal Elite Heating & Cooling Inc. of Pataskala, Ohio.
“We’re excited to showcase our building as the model home for geothermal to industry members, public policy officials, legislators, and the general public,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC.
Using an existing energy audit, a new building energy model, and site-specific thermal conductivity data, Salas O’Brien designed the geothermal system. The geothermal heat pumps from ClimateMaster Inc., Enertech Global LLC, and WaterFurnace International Inc. — coupled with a loop field that has a generous amount of capacity — will yield extremely high average coefficient of performances (COPs) and energy efficiency ratios (EERs) for the closed loop system.
Prior to drilling, the thermal conductivity was tested at 1.36 BTU/h*ft*°F and the thermal diffusivity was estimated to be 1.05 ft^2/day. These values were inserted into the model to ensure the loop field will serve the building’s energy needs.
The vertical closed loop system replaces the Association’s outdated HVAC system that it has used since moving to its current location in September 1996.
A panel discussion at Groundwater Week 2023 provided an overview of the retrofit.
In “Case Study: NGWA Building Geothermal Retrofit,” Morse and industry stakeholders for the project gave attendees a better idea of how retrofit applications can work well and be good business for water well and geothermal contractors, engineering firms, and building owners.
NGWA’s geothermal retrofit is made possible by these industry partners:
- AMTROL Inc.
- Bergerson-Caswell Inc.
- ClimateMaster Inc.
- Enertech Global LLC (GeoComfort)
- Federal Elite Heating & Cooling Inc.
- Grundfos
- Jackson Geothermal
- Preferred Pump & Equipment
- Salas O’Brien
- WaterFurnace International Inc.
- Xylem.
Click here to read past updates about the retrofit.
Click here to watch the case study from Groundwater Week 2023.