Speedsville Thermal Network Study
The Town is partnering with the Speedsville Community Center and Egg Geo (a prominent geothermal engineering firm) to investigate the feasibility of a "thermal energy network" for the Hamlet of Speedsville.
Thermal energy networks work by exchanging thermal energy with groundwater via a buried loop containing a conductive fluid. This is exactly the same technology as for geothermal HVAC systems in individual residences. Geothermal is 3- to 5-times more efficient than fuel combusion, and provides both heating and cooling. For a thermal network there is a community loop field that each home or business can tap in to for their heating and cooling.
Speedsville has provided Egg Geo information on the buildings in the hamlet and the kinds and amounts of energy used for space conditioning for a Scoping Study to present to the funding agency, New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA). Egg Geo is nearing completion of this study. The next step, pending approval from NYSERDA, will be Feasibility and Design.
Why Speedsvillle? Speedsville has no natural gas supply, so current building heating is with propane or fuel oil, primarily, which are very expensive. Geothermal is much more energy efficient and enables use of renewable energy. We are hopeful that the project will demonstrate that thermal energy networks provide a path to an affordable, renewable energy future for rural neighborhoods like Speedsville.
