Environmentally Friendly Renewable Energy to Help Power the OPC

If this were an episode of the popular TV game show Jeopardy! . . .

The category: From the Earth

The question: An environmentally friendly energy source that is more reliable than wind or solar and generates little to no harmful emissions.

The answer: What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy is a well that never runs dry, tapped from the earth’s inner core where the temperature is as hot as the sun’s surface, about 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit. It will be available as long as the sun shines, or for another five billion years or so. And, geothermal energy, which produces just 0.03% of the emissions of coal or gas, will supplement the traditional heating and cooling systems that power the Obama Presidential Center, substantially reducing the OPC’s carbon footprint.

“It’s more green and efficient because it uses energy from the earth versus burning of fossil fuels in a typical heating and cooling system,” said Desiree Scaife, assistant engineer for Lakeside Alliance. “It’s free energy from the earth, so it saves a lot of money, too.”

Lakeside Alliance partnered with QC Geothermal, based in East Moline, IL, to derive this renewable energy source. QC Geothermal, in fact, was the first contractor to do earth work on the 19-acre OPC site, which, due to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work happening simultaneously, took a lot of coordination between the building trades. A geothermal energy system is challenging to build and requires sufficient land capacity. QC Geothermal began by drilling bore holes 500 feet into the ground and dropping in 6-inch piping to assess how much heat can pass through the system, which essentially acts as a boiler or cooling tower.

“It’s a closed loop, pressurized system,” said Scaife. “All of the loops in the piping pushes water and a solution through, and grabs the energy from the earth to heat and cool the building.”

The system must be managed properly to maintain its sustainability by pumping a solution of glycol and water back into the underground pipes faster than it is depleted, she said. It is typically used in geographic areas with volcanic activity but still could have huge benefits for new construction in a city like Chicago.

“Any way we can lower the impact on the environment in any way shape or form benefits us,” Scaife said.