1998 ASHRAE Technology Awards: Geothermal System for School PDF

Describes an award winning project that replaced an R11 chiller at a high school with a geothermal heat pump system. The 14,864 m² (160,000 ft²) school in Tennessee was completed in 1971 and serves approximately 1,100 students. Describes the project design and illustrates the basic geothermal heat pump system schematic, and explains how the project demonstrates the marriage of variable flow pumping and geothermal heat pumps. Illustrates annual energy use and energy cost before and after the renovation, showing significant savings. Discusses cost effectiveness, noting a simple payback of six years. States the school system is so pleased they have employed the technology in two other locations.