flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Ball State University completes nation's largest ground-source geothermal system

Ball State University completes nation's largest ground-source geothermal system

Ball State's geothermal system will replace four aging coal-fired boilers to provide renewable power that will heat and cool 47 university buildings, representing 5.5-million-sf on the 660-acre campus.


By By BD+C Staff | March 26, 2012
The Ball State geothermal heating and cooling system will save $2 million annual
The Ball State geothermal heating and cooling system will save $2 million annually in operating costs and cut its carbon footpri

As part of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above approach to American energy, the Energy Department recently congratulated Ball State University for its campus-wide ground-source geothermal system, the nation's largest geothermal heating and cooling system.

Building on significant investment from the State of Indiana and the University, the Energy Department provided key support for the project with a $5 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Ball State system—which the university anticipates will save $2 million annually in operating costs and cut its carbon footprint by nearly 50%—is one Energy Department investment helping to reduce energy costs, diversify the nation's energy portfolio, and create clean energy jobs across the country.

Launched in 2009, Ball State's geothermal system will replace four aging coal-fired boilers to provide renewable power that will heat and cool 47 university buildings, representing 5.5-million-sf on the 660-acre campus.

To provide heating, the geothermal heat pump removes the heat from the fluid in the Earth and transfers it to the building. For cooling, the pump removes heat from the building and transfers it back into the Earth. Nearly every component of the Recovery Act-supported system was manufactured in America, and Ball State has contracted with more than 50 Indiana firms to complete the project, which included drilling 3,600 boreholes around campus.

Buildings consume about 40% of total energy in the U.S. The Energy Department's support for projects like the Ball State geothermal system underscores the Administration's commitment to clean, efficient energy solutions that can create significant costs savings. The innovative geothermal system highlighted today demonstrates the tremendous potential of sustainable energy technologies, and serves as a model for other major facilities and universities across the nation. BD+C

Related Stories

| Dec 5, 2011

New York and San Francisco receive World Green Building Council's Government Leadership Awards

USGBC commends two U.S. cities for their innovation in green building leadership.

| Dec 5, 2011

Summit Design+Build begins renovation of Chicago’s Esquire Theatre

The 33,000 square foot building will undergo an extensive structural remodel and core & shell build-out changing the building’s use from a movie theater to a high-end retail center.

| Dec 5, 2011

Fraser Brown MacKenna wins Green Gown Award

Working closely with staff at Queen Mary University of London, MEP Engineers Mott MacDonald, Cost Consultants Burnley Wilson Fish and main contractor Charter Construction, we developed a three-fold solution for the sustainable retrofit of the building.

| Dec 5, 2011

RJM Construction begins building Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul

As the general contractor, RJM is constructing the 94,000-sf building that will consolidate the St. Paul school’s two other locations. 

| Dec 5, 2011

Gables Residential brings mixed-use building to Houston's Tanglewood area

The design integrates a detailed brick and masonry facade, acknowledging the soft pastel color palette of the surrounding Mediterranean heritage of Tanglewood.

| Dec 5, 2011

SchenkelShultz Architecture designs Dr. Phillips Charities Headquarters building in Orlando

The building incorporates sustainable architectural features, environmentally friendly building products, energy-efficient systems, and environmentally-sensitive construction practices.

| Dec 2, 2011

What are you waiting for? BD+C's 2012 40 Under 40 nominations are due Friday, Jan. 20

Nominate a colleague, peer, or even yourself. Applications available here.

| Dec 2, 2011

Legrand joins White House initiative to spur energy efficiency in commercial buildings

Company agrees to aggressive energy savings and reporting.

| Dec 2, 2011

Goody Clancy awarded Ohio State residential project

The project, which is focused on developing a vibrant on-campus community of learning for OSU undergraduates.

| Dec 1, 2011

Nauset Construction breaks ground on Massachusetts health care center

The $20 million project is scheduled to be completed by December 2012. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.



halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021

Â