Yes, it’s boring!
Optimizing Place: The Madison Geoexchange Experience
AEI offers an expertise in the design and optimization of geoexchange systems in part through a varied exploration of one given locale: Madison, Wisconsin.
While Madison is broadly representative of most temperate North American regions in one if not both extremes, with average summertime highs in the eighties and average winter lows in the teens, it is unique in geography in that it is positioned amidst a variety of large lakes. This unique characteristic provides for exceptional sub-soil thermal conductivity. As such, we have designed systems that utilize the standard closed-loop borefield in both rural and urban environments, and have assessed the viability of using a borefield as a heat exchanger only, thus eliminating the energy consumption of compressors (heat pumps). We have installed hybrid systems that optimize both energy performance and the first cost equation for projects. Accordingly, we have looked beyond the conventional approaches to analyze the viability of constructing borefields immediately under a building’s footprint, utilizing rainwater retention ponds in lieu of vertical bores, and coupling the borefield with a building’s structure.
Epic Systems—More than 500 vertical bores running 300 feet underground, used in lieu of a central plant, cutting energy use by roughly 40 percent.
Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery—Hybrid geothermal system of 75 bores placed around the building’s perimeter, 300 feet deep, combines with other sustainable measures to project 180 KBUTU/GSF/YR, about half of other existing lab buildings on the University of Wisconsin campus.
First Unitarian Meeting House Addition—Closed loop system of 16 bores, 250 feet deep, reducing intrusive presence of mechanical systems for the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed historic landmark and contributing to a LEED® Gold rating.
