WorldWide Drilling Resource

Following up on Habitat Geothermal by Peter Tavino Litchfield Geothermal The dedication ceremony for the Habitat for Humanity House featuring the three-ton geothermal heat pump and drilled borehole donated for free by the Connecticut Geothermal Association (CGA) was held on November 7, 2015. The Northwest Connecticut Habitat organization prominently acknowledged this good work in their ceremony program. The young couple and their two infant children were pleased with their new house, and looked forward to no fuel bills and inexpensive domestic hot geothermal water. There was a display table with literature and CGA signs. Along with the blessing minister and guitarist who led the assembled audience in prayer and music, three geothermal installers present were recognized. Because I coordinated the project over the two years the renovation took place, I was invited to speak as listed on the program agenda, and did so. I noted this was the first - but hopefully not the last - time a geothermal system with ducts having a value of $30,000 was donated by a volunteer state geothermal association anywhere. I stated the system would not have been completed without the help and knowledge of current CGAPresident John Sima and Past President Guy Wanegar seated in the audience. I described the volunteer process for the assembled audience, and how the sys- temwas drawing heat from the ground. I also described the recent news article that the holiday tree at Rockefeller Center gets recy- cled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity houses after the holidays. So I jovially asked if the piece of wood trim he touched was on 50th Street in New York City last year. It was noted the heat in the house is similarly recy- cled into the 430-foot-deep borehole ledge rock. Heat was currently being withdrawn from the ground to heat the house in winter, and would be deposited into the ground to cool the house in summer. The 17 drilling and heating contractors and suppliers, especially WaterFurnace who donated the heat pump, were all mentioned, and a list of their roles was made available to the participants. The Habitat liaison folks were also recognized. Last year, I presented a PowerPoint slide show on the volunteer project at the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Conference in Baltimore. Also, a dozen CGA members attended the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers din- ner meeting, where the project won the state Environmental Award of Merit. CGA contin- ues to lead the way in community service projects and other activities beneficial to the geothermal industry. The statements and comments in this article are based on information and refer- ences believed to be true and factual. If you have any questions or comments, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . Pete michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 15 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JANUARY 2016