Appendices of an appraisal for the use of geothermal energy in state-owned buildings in Colorado. Section C. Burlington
The State Highway Department Building in Burlington has been evaluated in this geothermal energy appraisal. While there is no known geothermal resource at Burlington, a shallow water aquifer - Ogallala Aquifer - does exist beneath Burlington at depths of 200 to 300 feet. One particular water well is reported to be producing water at 59/sup 0/F to 63/sup 0/F at 800 to 1000 gpm. Therefore, the Ogallala is being considered as a source of warm water for the use of water-to-air heat pumps for space heating of the Highway Department Building. The geothermal energy economics are evaluated for two options: (1) a new water well drilled on the site of the Highway Department Building and (2) the purchase of warm water from an existing City of Burlington water well. The latter option is evaluated only for the 12 percent/9 percent (through 1984/through 2000) natural gas price escalation case, whereas the former option is evaluated for both the 15 percent and the 12 percent/9 percent schedules. The results of the economic evaluations generally indicate that heat pumps would not be economically competitive, particularly if the state purchased city water at the current water rates. Fuel price escalation rates greater than 15 percent per year can shift the heat pump shallow well option to a marginal position. The principal institutional/environmental issue to be addressed for the Burlington facility is an existing ordinance which only allows the city to drill water wells within the city.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado Geological Survey, Denver (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6440552
- Report Number(s):
- NP-3901253; ON: DE83901253
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Appendices of an appraisal for the use of geothermal energy in state-owned buildings in Colorado. Section D. Durango
Appendices of an appraisal for the use of geothermal energy in state-owned buildings in Colorado. Section E. Glenwood Springs
Related Subjects
151000* -- Geothermal Energy-- Direct Energy Utilization
BUILDINGS
COLORADO
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL SPACE HEATING
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
SPACE HEATING
STATE GOVERNMENT
USA
WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
WATER WELLS
WELLS