Geothermal heating

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Heat., Piping Air Cond.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6719193

Austin, J C; Fettkether, L M

When all the elements are right, geothermal water can supply a comfortable, environmentally safe, and highly economical source for space heating. In a closed loop system, it is virtually a renewable resource. The resource should be economically accessible, large enough, hot enough, and close enough to the building to be heated. In Boise, Idaho's capitol city, all the right elements were there. A new geothermal system began operating in October 1982, providing space and hot water heating for Idaho's Capitol Mall complex, which has nearly 750,000 sq ft of space in seven buildings. It is the culmination of work begun in 1975 with a demonstration project in the State's Agriculture/Health Building--a demonstration which proved the economics of geothermal heating and served as a testing ground for applications of equipment, materials, and methods of controlling and conserving the resource. The Capitol Mall system is exceeding initial expectations, providing over 95 percent of the heating load on a 10 F day. The geothermal system has resulted in energy savings of approximately $120,000 on the costs of natural gas for the first 1982-83 heating season. As the cost of fuels rises over the years, the savings to the state for use in the system and a unique software package to monitor geothermal water usage and associated costs. Design was completed in early 1982. Construction of the heating system began in early spring.

• Research Organization: CH2M Hill, Boise, ID
• OSTI ID: 6719193
• Journal Information: Heat., Piping Air Cond.; (United States), Journal Name: Heat., Piping Air Cond.; (United States) Vol. 55:11; ISSN HPAOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
151000* -- Geothermal Energy-- Direct Energy Utilization
ACCOUNTING
BUILDINGS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
DESIGN
DISTRICT HEATING
ENERGY ACCOUNTING
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION X
GEOTHERMAL DISTRICT HEATING
GEOTHERMAL HEATING
GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL SPACE HEATING
GEOTHERMAL WATER HEATING
HEATING
HEATING SYSTEMS
IDAHO
NORTH AMERICA
SPACE HEATING
URBAN AREAS
USA
WATER HEATING