Geoexchange at CMU2012

Regional public higher education institution

3 campuses in Grand Junction, CO.

Main campus 78 acres and 1.5 million s.f. under roof.

Enrollment of just over 9,000 students

Colorado Mesa University

The use of G.S.H.P. at CMU began in the fall of 2007.

In part, resulted from Governor Ritter’s Greening State Government initiative that called for a 20% reduction in State government energy use by June 30, 2012.

“state government should lead by example…”

Why Geoexchange at CMU?

Geo & Energy Independence

Increased to 1,800 Tons

of Heating and 1,600

Tons of Cooling

Thru Geo-Exchange

10,040 Tons of CO2 Emissions Reduced Per Year

192 Jobs Created/Saved;

$37M in Economic

Activity

Energy Independence Outcomes:

Increase to 1.2 MW of Solar Electricity

Was Geo Accepted by All?The administration at CMU was not only open to the concept of GX, they pushed to see how far the concept could be taken.

The decision was made during the summer of 2007 to expand geo to include additional drill fields and a system of pipes that would connect drill fields to buildings across campus.

 

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Initial loop would move (up to) 1,500 tons.

Planning for a Central Loop

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

 

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Quantum Group Engineering LLC

The Results were very good. The earth conditions were towards the upper end for soils on the Western Slope.TC – 1.24 btu/hr-ft-oFDiffusivity: .09 ft2/dayDeep Earth: 61 – 64.5 oF

Planning for a Central Loop

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8” dia. pipes between central loop & H.H

Drill Rig

Drill Field

Constructing a Central Loop

Additional Drill Fields

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Drill fields south of A.C.B.

Pipes connectingBore holes

CMU’s Community Hybrid GX System

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-Hybrid System. A hybrid GX system is a heating and cooling system that couples renewable energy system(s) with conventional technology.-CMU’s hybrid GX system includes drill fields, boilers and cooling towers.-Three separate drill fields-234,000 lineal feet of geo-exchange tubing-5,000 lineal feet of 18” diameter loop field pipe (central loop)

Community Hybrid GX System

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3 (or more) “Least Energy Path(s)”:1. The building shares energy with

itself.2. The building shares energy with

other buildings (take energy from or give energy to the central loop).

3. The SYSTEM calls for assistance from renewable (central loop or solar).

4. The SYSTEM calls for assistance from conventional equipment.

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

Buildings Connected

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-Academic Classroom Building (56k sf)-North Residence Hall (110ksf)-University Center (100k sf) -Wubben Hall (43,375 s.f.)-Wubben /Science Ctr. Exp. (26,222 sf)-Houston Hall renovation/addition (80,940 sf) -Bunting Residence Hall(72,500).

Central Loop

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Classrooms Dormitories

Student Center

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

Existing Thermal Assets:BuildingThree BoilersRooftop Cooling

Retrofit:Water-Water GXHP, fan coils and chilled water coils.

Houston Hall (Existing)• Add new mechanical rooms• Add central loop tie in• Add one new borefield• Add future borefield stub-out• Heat exchanger to couple

existing boilers to central loop

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

Building Assets

Main Central Loop mechanical room.

Central Loop Pumps

Chiller

Cooling tower #1

Boilers

Chiller

Building

CT #2

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

Single button Campus Demand Limiting:Campus wide load shedding during peak events.

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

Current Project Size: 500k ft2

2,400 gross tons 25 miles of loop

6 boilers 3 fluid coolers

Academic Classroom Building – 56k s.f.North Ave. Student Housing - 110k s.f.Science Center & Wubben – 69.5k s.f.University Center – 100k s.f.Bunting Ave. Student Housing – 72.5k s.f.Houston Hall – 80.9k s.f.

Community Hybrid GX System

* Source: Cary Smith, Sound Geothermal

-Drill Fields - $4.4 million-Central Loop - $ 1.2 million -Main System Pumps -$713k-Global Management System - $200k-Total - $6.5 million-Energy savings in excess of $300k / year  *-Conservative estimates show our Carbon footprint reducing by 8,188 metric tons through the use of GX-Estimated Load-shed Value (Per event) $5,000 - $10,000

Invested to Date?

*($.05/kWh, consumption of 22 kWh/s.f./yr for trad. hvac vs. 10 kWh/s.f./yr for GSHP).

CMU, like many other business, continues looking for ways to be more competitive; to offer uncompromising quality at a price point lower than that of our competitors.

Reducing and/or conserving energy through the use of geo, while generating energy on-site through the use of solar, reduces our Carbon footprint, creates jobs locally and saves CMU money.

Why Geoexchange at CMU?