Civic Center could get new geothermal system
Some get down and dirty while playing at McMinnville Civic Center, while others rock out while exercising. Now the Civic Center itself will be using dirt and rocks to heat and cool the facility.
If approved by elected officials, the 32-year-old facility will receive a modern geothermal heating system. The recommendation to use the system was made by Townsend Engineering, Inc. after an audit of the facility showed it would benefit from the system upgrade.
A geothermal system takes advantage of the Earth?s ability to store vast amounts of heat in the soil. This heat energy is maintained at a constant temperature, between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the latitude, in the soil and near-surface rocks.
The unit works in two ways:
? Heat ? The in-ground unit will pull heat from the Earth and transfer it to the facility.
? Cool ? The in-ground unit will pull heat from the building and transfer it to the Earth.
Not only will the system, if installed, keep the Civic Center at an even temperature, it will do it while using less energy, saving money each month, and reducing the amount of pollution produced by fossil fuel systems.
According to the Townsend findings, the energy savings will amount to $25,296 annually. They are also suggesting energy-efficient lighting be installed that would increase that savings by $4,643.
The total cost for the system and the lighting will be $641,000. The city will qualify for a $226,000 energy loan and TVA will pay about $100,000, leaving approximately $315,000. That number is less than what the city will have to pay to replace the current system with a similar heating/cooling system, a cost of about $340,000
The long-term savings over the life of the unit could exceed what the unit costs to install. The annual savings is estimated at $29,939 and the lifespan of the system is between 25 to 30 years, an energy savings between $748,475 and $898,170.
Elected officials haven?t decided to go with the system, but they have given their OK to allow the soil to be tested to make sure it is appropriate for the system. If the decision is made to go with this system, it would take six to eight weeks for installation.