American Water Innovates with Geothermal Pilot
July 14 2015 - 2:14PM
Business Wire
A new American Water (NYSE: AWK) research and development pilot
could transform traditional geothermal systems and introduce a new
application in renewable energy. The largest publicly traded U.S.
water and wastewater utility company announced today that its
subsidiary in New York is piloting a geothermal innovation to heat
and cool larger buildings.
“American Water is taking a creative approach to traditional
geothermal and developing a new application that will lower energy
costs and reduce a building’s carbon footprint,” said William M.
Varley, senior vice president of American Water’s Northeast
Division. “We are providing heating and cooling for a
40,000-square-foot school without utilizing fossil fuel in the
winter months.”
The American Water geothermal system at the William L. Buck
Elementary School in Valley Stream, N.Y., uses the thermal
properties of the water as it passes through a heat exchanger. The
American Water geothermal system is a departure from traditional
geothermal – which has been in existence since the 1950s – by
eliminating the need to drill over a hundred deep geothermal
boreholes, thereby significantly reducing initial construction
costs. During this phase of the pilot program, after the water
passes through the heat exchanger, it is returned to the aquifer
via a diffusion well.
Temperatures in each classroom can be individually controlled,
and with the American Water geothermal system in operation,
administrators, teachers and students have a much more comfortable
learning environment. For the first time ever, the William L. Buck
Elementary School can be cooled in summer, enabling the school
district to relocate summertime programs and events to the
facility.
Construction of the geothermal system began in September 2014
with crews working at night without any disruption to student
learning. By February 2015, duct work was complete, the heating and
cooling geothermal console units had been installed in each
classroom, and the system was put into service.
About American Water
Founded in 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and
most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and
wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J.,
the company employs 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide
regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other
related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and
Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at
www.amwater.com.
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American WaterDenise Venuti Free,
856-309-4690denise.free@amwater.comExternal Communications
Manager
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