Bowling Green City School District recently had a test well drilled to assess the feasibility of installing a geothermal system for the new high school. The test results indicate that a geothermal system is a viable option for the new high school and will need fewer wells than initially anticipated, resulting in a lower up-front installation cost.
A geothermal system will efficiently heat and cool the new high school resulting in significantly lower energy consumption, reducing operating costs over the system’s life.
Bowling Green City Schools will also receive tax credits for installing a geothermal system due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which offers federal incentives for clean and renewable energy investments, decarbonization, sustainability investments, energy efficiency, and infrastructure upgrades. It allows the district to install geothermal infrastructure at a cost-neutral price point (after the tax credits). The school district anticipates being eligible for up to a 40% tax credit for the entire HVAC system due to the IRA.
Geothermal offers the following benefits that will have a direct impact on the students and surrounding community:
- Small footprint: Geothermal heat pumps are compact and less disruptive (noisy) in a school environment.
- Environmentally responsible: Geothermal systems are not just cost-effective; they are also environmentally responsible. By eliminating the combustion of fossil fuels on-site and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the district can take pride in its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
- Long-lasting: Geothermal systems have very long average life spans. A typical well-field lifespan is 50-plus years and a heat pump lasts approximately 25 years.
- Geothermal systems require very little maintenance.
