Commercial Architecture December 2017 - 26

PROJECT

geothermal
engineer with Landmark Facilities Group, the facilities manager for
St Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan: "At the outset, we evaluated a
conventional HVAC system, but determined it would pose too many
challenges for this historic building. We conducted a feasibility study
and found that a geothermal system let us meet our goals with the
smallest impact."
NYSERDA has recognized the need to educate professional architects and engineers and is offering AIA- and PDH-accredited
courses in New York. These events are scheduled at high-profile facilities throughout the state.
DURABILITY

Geothermal designs are considered to be an infrastructure-level investment because the exchanger installed in the earth or an adjacent
body of water will last for generations. The pumps, heat pumps, and
controls that drive the system may need periodic replacement due
to wear and tear, though properly specified and installed equipment
will last between 20 and 50 years. But the geothermal exchanger (inground portion) is as permanent as the slab and structural pilings of
the buildings themselves.
While large exchange installations are extremely durable, smaller
systems designed for a small business or a home have not always

Above. NYSERDA is providing the
CEUs for architects, engineers,
and other professionals throughout
New York in an effort to educate
specifiers about the far-reaching
benefits of geothermal HVAC technologies.

measured up. Educational efforts for architects, engineers, and other
design professionals have considerably reduced this concern. As with
many engineered systems, retaining a professional with some experience, getting a couple of estimates, and having a consultant review
the design are very small investments that will ensure proper design
and installation.
IGSHPA has been working with the International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO, Ontario, CA) to write

Right. The heart of a geothermal
system is the circulators, or fluid
pumps. These circulate the water
through the pipes that transfer heat
to and from the exchanger field, delivering Earth energy to equipment
inside the building.

codes for buildings that will integrate the specifications into local
building codes in the U.S. and internationally. IGSHPA has also put
their training materials online to further education.
In an effort to help professionals understand what is going on in
the market, Commercial Architecture and IGSHPA are collaborating
to provide extended coverage of geothermal technology and the marSaratoga Springs, NY. The 2017 startup aims to help homeowners

ket. We plan to bring you information on the Cornell Campus proj-

replace their truck-delivered-fuel heating systems with affordable geo-

ect, recently completed on Roosevelt Island in New York. This geo-

thermal systems that provide heating, cooling, and hot water. Growth

thermal facility will demonstrate the versatility of geothermal HVAC

in the industry is also robust in retrofit markets, simply because of

systems.

the considerable costs that can be incurred to replace chillers, heat
pumps, and air-distribution equipment in those projects.

Also, we will show just how far and wide geothermal systems are
implemented as we go to Texas and share information on hundreds
of schools that are now geothermal heated and cooled. Also in Texas,

STILL MISUNDERSTOOD

we'll share an overview of The Whisper Valley development, a

Yet, geothermal is often misunderstood. A good example is the

mixed-use, 100% geothermal installation with utility-grade geother-

Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY. Engineers stated that installing

mal infrastructure. Then we will go to Google's new facility near San

a geothermal system would not be possible, primarily because they

Francisco, where they are implementing geothermal exchange in the

thought the only approach was to drill holes for geothermal loops.

building structural piles.

In fact, the project can likely be completed using the existing cooling

Finally, we will travel to Atlanta to explore the 100% geothermal

water from the Hudson River as a heat source/sink for the chillers

Pinewood Forrest mixed-use community. You'll find all of our cover-

and heat pumps.

age at commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/geothermal. CA

Geothermal systems are easiest to implement in new-construc-

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

tion projects because the exchangers can be placed under buildings

Jay Egg, president and founder of Egg Geothermal, Kissimmee, FL,

and/or parking lots, installed in structural piles, or placed in adjacent

is a consultant and designer of geothermal HVAC systems. He has

bodies of water. However, the technology is adaptable to nearly every

authored two books and numerous articles on the subject. He can be

conceivable application. Consider this from Richard A. Sileo, senior

reached at jayegg.geo@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 2017

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/geothermal http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture December 2017