Northampton High School's carbon pollution could soon be cut in half thanks to a new geothermal system being built beneath its parking lot.
The $11.6 million project will swap out the school's aging heating and cooling equipment, which is nearing the end of its useful life, and could make the building more comfortable for students and staff while cutting energy use.
Here's what to know
A groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday, with city officials, school students and staff, representatives from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and construction manager Brightcore Energy Services in attendance, according to The Reminder.
The project centers on installing a geothermal ground-source heat pump system in place of the school's outdated heating and cooling equipment.
The system should be fully built by 2027. Once it's in place, water will move through underground pipes and use the earth's steady temperature to heat and cool the building more efficiently than conventional systems.
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said officials expect the new system to last 100 years or more, the outlet reported.
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It added that Northampton's Department of Climate Action and Project Administration received a $4 million MassCEC Green School Works grant as part of a statewide $19 million award round.
More background
Department of Climate Action and Project Administration Director Ben Weil said the high school's chillers are already beyond their expected lifespan and will likely need to be swapped out within five years. The boilers are also nearing the end of their expected lifespan.
City officials have said the geothermal project would help maintain healthy, comfortable classrooms in the school building, which dates to 1940.
Earlier estimates, as The Reminder noted, found that switching to ground-source heat pumps could cut energy costs by 17%, trim maintenance costs by as much as 50%, and lower the building's energy use by 68%. The high school is responsible for roughly 10% of Northampton's carbon pollution.
Sciarra said the contract includes guaranteed operating savings and a cap on the project cost, which limited the risk of budget overruns.
What's being done?
According to The Reminder, the City Council gave the project its funding go-ahead by approving Climate Stabilization funds and a combination of municipal bonds to cover its design, installation, and construction.
The city also brought together grant funding, utility incentives, tax incentives, and additional borrowing to round out its stabilization reserves. Sciarra said that mix of financing gave the city a return on its investment.
Through its Green School Works program, MassCEC is backing projects meant to be efficient, repeatable models other schools can follow. Green School Works Program Manager Jamie Scott said the program has committed over $72 million to Massachusetts schools.
"The infrastructure produces operating costs and channels more money to meeting the educational needs of the students," Scott said, per The Reminder.
Weil added: "A ground-source heat pump is simply the most efficient way to provide heating and cooling. This is as close to a future-proof investment as you get in HVAC."
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