United States. The Bloomberg Center on the technology campus of Cornell University (New York) was recently equipped with a Geothermal Source Heat Pump (GSHP). It provides heating, cooling and domestic hot water without any direct combustion of fossil fuels.
Eighty wells have been drilled to a depth of 400 feet, intercepting water-filled fissures in the local bedrock. The system then harnesses this water to increase its efficiency.
The combination of the facility's low-energy design, photovoltaic solar panels and GI Energy's GSHP system is expected to save up to 500 tons of CO2 per year.
It is the first time in the United States that a groundwater pumping system has been applied in this way to a closed-loop geothermal system. It is designed to support the Bloomberg Center's aspiration for radically lower energy consumption and minimal environmental impact.
Steve Beyers, an energy engineer at Cornell University, said: "The Bloomberg Center's innovative ground-source heat pump system is a perfect match for Cornell's mission of education, research and outreach. It demonstrates respect for the environment and saves money on energy for investment in our educational mission, but it is also a great experiment in new technologies. It's a win-win for the University."
Source: www.gienergyus.com
