Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables - July 12, 2021
UMass Medical School Installs Geothermal System
UMass Medical School announced on July 9 that it is installing a geothermal heating and cooling system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its Worcester campus. The system will reduce building emissions by 55% compared to serving its HVAC needs exclusively with the campus power plant.
“This is an important sustainability milestone for the Worcester campus,” John Baker, associate vice chancellor for facilities management, said in a statement. “It’s a big step toward meeting our long-term decarbonization goals.”
The campus power plant will supply electricity to the new building. The plant will also help meet peak demands for heating and cooling during the winter and summer months. Over the course of a year, the geothermal system will provide 88% of the heat for offices, laboratories, and educational and public spaces, and 50% of the cooling needs for the building
If the new building were served exclusively by the campus power plant, it would generate approximately 3,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The geothermal system will cut that carbon footprint by 1,660 tons per year, according to an energy analysis of the building conducted by engineering consultants BR+A.
The geothermal system for the new building will exceed the latest “stretch” building codes for energy efficiency and is aligned with the goals for new public buildings expressed in the state’s Executive Order 594 “Leading by Example: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government” issued by Governor Charlie Baker on April 22.
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