B5._ Geothermal microdistricts
Reduce geothermal costs by building systems to serve small areas, using existing pipes.
A pilot project in New York State is using an existing city drinking water line to supply the heat for a 40,000 sq. ft. school.
A Massachusetts nonprofit, the Home Energy Efficiency Team and Eversource, a gas company, are launching three GeoMicroDistrict pilots, replacing gas pipelines in the right of way with pipes for local geothermal heating systems. (The state faces an estimated $9 billion in costs to replace its old and failing gas lines, which supports the economics of switching to geothermal.) There’s an engineering feasibility study of the concept.