At this point we all are aware that geothermal energy is lying beneath us right now; however, many may not realize that it is being put to use here on Clarke College's campus. As a matter of fact, the new apartment complex is the largest residential unit in all of Iowa that is entirely heated and cooled using geothermal energy. Yet, this distinction will not last long due to the recent up rise of this particular unit. Not only is it a clean source of heat and cooling, the cost to run the system in astoundingly low. After being introduced to the idea and researching it, Fred Freebolin, the Director of Clarke's Physical Plant said, "I was convinced that it was the best option for us." Now Freebolin is an avid supporter of geothermal energy for other modern complexes throughout the state of Iowa. In fact, he presents at conferences what Clarke has observed in using this advanced technology (Fred Freebolin, 1999).
The system that I speak of is very different from the steam turbines that have been discussed previously. Turbine systems actually use the heat and pressure of the earth to generate electricity. They also must be on or close to the cracks of the earth's mantle in order to create the types of conditions necessary for effective output. Our mechanism, on the other hand, needs none of this. The Midwest doesn't have the plate activity to put the turbine systems to use. The geothermal heating and cooling system being used at Clarke is a specially designed underground earth loop network. This system can best be understood by viewing the picture below.
A number of wells are drilled deep into the earth. The depth of these wells is dependent on the territory being drilled in. The loops need to burrow to a depth where the heat of the earth is relatively constant. This happens to be at 230 feet for the units here on campus. At this depth, the ground's temperature tends to be between 50-52† Fahrenheit. You may think, "50 degrees? Well, that's too cold to keep our apartment heated in the dead of an Iowa winter." Yet, the system does work. In fact, the system has the capability to be efficient at -16( F.
Here's a general description of how the system works. The apartment complex has 48 separate wells. This is a few more than necessary in case of damage to one of the loops. The solution in the piping is brought to the surface after being heated by the ground. In the apartment complex, heat pumps have been installed to draw the warmth from the solution. From this point, the heat is collected and distributed throughout the apartments just like any conventional system. For the process to continue, the liquid solution is constantly being sent back down through the loops to be reheated. Of course, the system does need some help from a standard electricity source. Heat pumps need electricity to run; however, the apartment's electricity bill is far less than it would be with a regular heating/cooling system.
How much less? The electricity bill is a mere $1400 per month for a 30,000 square foot housing complex with 96 individual rooms. This is extremely cost efficient when considering that a normal house has electricity bills in the hundreds of dollars. These low-cost electricity expenditures did not come at low cost. The geothermal system installment cost was about 20% more than the usual heating/cooling system. The necessary drilling and piping accounted for the higher installment prices; however, it is predicted that the system will pay for itself in only 3 years. This long-term payback is one feature that makes the loop system so valuable to everyone at Clarke. Another added incentive for the college to install it is the rebates offered by Dubuque's local utility service. Because the use of natural gas is eliminated, the electric company is providing all the temperature control resources to the apartments. The increase in business is why electricity companies offer the rebates.
The reasons that this particular system is not all that common to us are easily explained. The cost of natural gas in the Midwest is already very low. Therefore, people are not searching for a alternative like geothermal energy. To many, it seems pointless to go out of their way just to use an alternative. Yet, this is not true on the East Coast where natural gas prices are much steeper. In that part of the country, systems like the one at Clarke are much more common.
The second factor that makes several homebuilders to drawback from geothermal is the startup cost. When building a home, cost is obviously a factor. It is sometimes hard for people to look past the short-term costs to see the long-term benefits. At times, a large bay window and a hot tub come before a geothermal heating/cooling system. As society becomes more aware of what is available, this trend may continue to change.
However, geothermal energy is not the best alternative in every situation. One example is also seen on Clark's campus. The student union that is currently being constructed will not use the benefits of the earth's inner heat. This is due to the lack of space in the area where the foundation is being laid. The loop system cannot be located directly beneath the foundation of a building. This is because there may be times when the loops need to be worked on or replaced. Accessibility to the loops in case of a problem is important. According to Fred Freebolin, the geothermal system would have been used for the new student union if the land issue had not been a concern (Fred Freebolin, 1999)
The benefits of geothermal energy have been supported right here at Clarke College. This alternative source has proven itself to be cost efficient, environmentally friendly, and effective at keeping the apartment complex at a comfortable temperature. Other businesses, schools, and homebuilders of the Midwest need to become more aware of geothermal systems that are currently being offered. Putting off the use of alternative resources, namely geothermal, is only going to hurt future generations.
Back to Geothermal Energy: The Alternative of the Future