WHS Geothermal System Explained

Despite complaints of water dripping from the ceilings during the summer and the irregularity of temperature between rooms, the Geothermal Systems used by Waterford High School and Clark Lane Middle School provide more benefits than any other system.

Geothermal heating is the process of using the Earth’s natural thermal energy to regulate the temperature of a building. The high school and middle school also have a system in place to filter out CO2 while bringing in fresh air from outside. Windows can not be left open with this system in place however, since the outside air interferes with the temperature sensors when not taken in internationally by the system.

During the winter, water is warmed underground, and using reversible rods that are part of the system, heated water is passed throughout the school and into the ceiling vents, which acts like the back of an air conditioner. It cools the water, which produces heat that is then expelled into the school

When summer rolls around, the system changes its process. Water is passed through underground reservoirs, cooling it down. Again, it is passed through the building into the vents, which uses the water to cool the building. As a result of the cool air being sent from the vents, water condenses around the edges of the vents, which is responsible for the dripping in some rooms.

Using this system, the schools have cut the costs of temperature regulation by $4 per cubic feet of air heated. This is a 50% saving over the previous system, despite costing 2 million to be installed. Despite the mild discomfort that may come from irregular and somewhat uncomfortable room temperature, the system is completely safe and entirely stable.