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dan Swanson
news | press
The Nebraska City Board of Education is investigating the feasibility of heating and cooling the new Northside elementary school with geothermal energy.
Geothermal has been considered as a way to save on energy costs since the concept for the new elementary school was first proposed in 2006, said Board President Tom Farrell, but it would add about $400,000 to the initial construction costs.
Farrell said the school board not only needs to understand how much can be saved in energy bills over time, but if the expense can fit under the total construction budget.
Voters approved a total construction budget of $23.6 million in October to allow the school district to have six classes per grade level, rather than the current four. The construction plans call for district-wide upgrades to heating and cooling systems, expansions to Hayward Elementary and the high school and construction of a new Northside Elementary.
The footprint for the elementary school, which is budgeted to cost as much as $9.8 million, will cover about two of the school’s 11 acres north of 14th Avenue, allowing plenty of land for either a geothermal wellfield or underground piping.
Farrell said the additional land was acquired for use as green space, playing fields and future expansions, but could also accommodate a geothermal system.
Merle Rambo of Facilities Cost Management Group said the system would typically pay for itself in two decades, but he would check to see if there are any energy rebates available from public utilities to make the payback quicker.
Bill Moore, who said he uses geothermal energy for his home in Nebraska City, said a period of 30 years should be used to get a clearer idea about cost benefits. “Fifty-four degree water coming in makes a big difference when it's 100 degrees outside or it’s zero outside,” he said.
Farrell said the school board does not need to be sold on the idea of geothermal, but he would like to see the savings on energy bills to pay for extra construction costs sooner than 20 years. “We’re in favor of geothermal, if we can afford the payback,” he said.
Leroy Frana, manager of Nebraska City Utilities, said later that the utility does not offer rebates for geothermal systems.
Rambo said he has contacted a company to study the cost benefits of a geothermal system for Northside, but it will cost the school district about $15,000. The study would determine how quickly geothermal can pay for itself.
A typical heating and cooling system for a building the size of the new elementary school would include a boiler, cooling tower and iron piping that can handle the high-pressure water. The boiler and cooling tower would not be needed in a geothermal system and plastic piping can be used because the water is not under pressure.
“If you’re ever going to do it, it seems now is the time, but you may need more time to promote rebates,” Rambo said.
Farrell got an affirmative response when he asked about Rambo’s offer to explore rebates. “We’re cool about where we are with geothermal,” he said.
Also at its meeting Monday, the board accepted a bid of $249,466 from Kreifels Conservation & Excavating for dirt work at the Northside school site. The project area includes about half of the school district’s 11 acres.
Kreifels Conservation also bid $24,500 to remove a couple feet of dirt off of the remaining ground, but the school board agreed to wait before ordering the additional work.
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