A panel discussion at Groundwater Week 2023 provided an overview of NGWA’s ongoing geothermal retrofit project at its headquarters in Westerville, Ohio.
In “Case Study: NGWA Building Geothermal Retrofit,” NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC, pictured to the right, 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.
David Henrich, CWD/PI, CVCLD, moderated the discussion that included International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Executive Director Jeff Hammond and Jim Bradburn, PE, BEMP, LEED-AP, CQxP. The retrofit project is unique in bringing various industry stakeholders — including NGWA and IGSHPA members — together to meet the needs of the conversion.
Eighteen units (nine furnaces and nine air conditioners) are being replaced by nine geothermal units in the 15,970-square-foot building. 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 by Federal Elite Heating & Cooling Inc. of Pataskala, Ohio, began in late 2023 and is expected to take 120 days.
“We’re excited to showcase our building as the model home for geothermal to industry members, public policy officials, legislators, and the general public,” Morse said.
NGWA’s geothermal retrofit 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.
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The vertical closed loop system will replace the Association’s outdated HVAC system that it has used since moving to its current location in September 1996.
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 all articles about NGWA’s geothermal retrofit project.
All recordings of Groundwater Week 2023 workshops will be on the NGWA Learning Center by February 1. Attendees will receive a coupon code between February 1-15 to access the workshop recordings for free to gain lifetime access to them. Workshop recordings will also be available for purchase for non-attendees.