How the Mount is already going green
A look at Geothermal Energy in Bicentennial Hall
Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: News
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When the Mount's new residence hall is built it will use geothermal energy for heating and cooling.
Geothermal energy is based on the heat of the earth at a 200-400 foot depth, which is constantly 55 degrees, according to Vice President of Business and Finance Mike Malewicki.
To install a geothermal system, many wells will be dug in the ground beneath the residence hall with copper tubing in the wells and a biodegradable coolant in the tubing. Then the heat from the ground will be transferred to the coolant and extracted by a heat pump.
The temperature of the ground will provide the same amount of constant temperature to the building and the energy produced will be converted to either heating or cooling the building.
The only cost involved with geothermal energy is the cost of installation and maintenance equipment and this cost is paid back in six to seven years.
"It's not only good payback, but it's the right thing to do," Malewicki said.
Wind Meter Tower Proposal by Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee
The Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee (ESSC) presented a Wind Power Feasibility Study proposal at the Faculty Meeting on March 1. The proposal intends to pursue a feasibility study of wind power as a potential energy source at the University.
According to Chair of the Committee, Dr. Michelle Bower, the proposal passed on a voice vote with no objections or abstentions.
The proposal stipulated that the wind meter tower would likely be located east of Route 15 behind the ARCC, according to Dr. Jeffrey Simmons, the member of the ESSC who wrote the proposal.
The wind meter tower study would be free, but if the University decided to obtain a wind turbine, it would cost $30,000-$60,000, Simmons said.
"A wind turbine, if installed, would not allow us to discontinue coal use," Simmons said. "However, a wind turbine (a renewable source of energy) would in some sense compensate for our use of coal (a nonrenewable resource) and move the University closer to sustainability."
Currently the committee is surveying the campus for support on the proposal and they will be meeting with Vice President of Business and Finance Mike Malewicki soon, according to Bower.
Geothermal energy is based on the heat of the earth at a 200-400 foot depth, which is constantly 55 degrees, according to Vice President of Business and Finance Mike Malewicki.
To install a geothermal system, many wells will be dug in the ground beneath the residence hall with copper tubing in the wells and a biodegradable coolant in the tubing. Then the heat from the ground will be transferred to the coolant and extracted by a heat pump.
The temperature of the ground will provide the same amount of constant temperature to the building and the energy produced will be converted to either heating or cooling the building.
The only cost involved with geothermal energy is the cost of installation and maintenance equipment and this cost is paid back in six to seven years.
"It's not only good payback, but it's the right thing to do," Malewicki said.
Wind Meter Tower Proposal by Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee
The Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee (ESSC) presented a Wind Power Feasibility Study proposal at the Faculty Meeting on March 1. The proposal intends to pursue a feasibility study of wind power as a potential energy source at the University.
According to Chair of the Committee, Dr. Michelle Bower, the proposal passed on a voice vote with no objections or abstentions.
The proposal stipulated that the wind meter tower would likely be located east of Route 15 behind the ARCC, according to Dr. Jeffrey Simmons, the member of the ESSC who wrote the proposal.
The wind meter tower study would be free, but if the University decided to obtain a wind turbine, it would cost $30,000-$60,000, Simmons said.
"A wind turbine, if installed, would not allow us to discontinue coal use," Simmons said. "However, a wind turbine (a renewable source of energy) would in some sense compensate for our use of coal (a nonrenewable resource) and move the University closer to sustainability."
Currently the committee is surveying the campus for support on the proposal and they will be meeting with Vice President of Business and Finance Mike Malewicki soon, according to Bower.
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