Case Studies

Geothermal Case Studies:

Case studies are 8.5x11" front and back information sheets describing specific geothermal installations. The information includes a description of the project, size and design of the geothermal system, a list of the energy savings and other benefits, and a photograph of the building.

These case studies are also available as a readable PDF document. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 to read these documents. Reader is free to download from Adobe's website.

Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN (#11040)

Lipscomb University’s Ezell Center is the first university building in Nashville, Tenn., to use geothermal technology for heating and cooling.  Completed in 2006, the 77,000-square foot academic building was planned to address the university’s concerns over rising energy prices and interest in environmental stewardship.  This case study highlights the project details, the system benefits and the energy savings.

Hope Crossing, Oklahoma City, OK (#11041)

Central Oklahoma’s Habitat for Humanity built the 217-home development, Hope Crossing, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Located at NE 83rd and Kelley Avenue, the development covers 59 acres and offers residents three-bedroom, two-bath homes averaging 1,250 square feet. All homes in Hope Crossing will be LEED certified and use ground source heat pumps. The case study describes the benefits of the system and the homeowners’ savings, as well as project goals.

Please note: The case studies below are only available as a downloadable PDF document. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 to read these documents. Reader is free to download from Adobe's website.

Park Chase Apartments, Tulsa, OK

Park Chase Apartments spreads out over 27 acres and consists of 64 buildings containing 348 apartments. It was renovated beginning in 1991, and the GHP retrofit is currently saving the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) close to $60,000 annually. This case study tells the story of how HUD came to select a GHP retrofit, how contractors and the local utility worked to lower first costs, and the benefits the complex has gained from putting in a GHP system .
Click here for the PDF document.

Fort Polk

At Fort Polk, the installation of over 4,000 GHPs has enabled US Army energy managers to reduce energy and maintenance costs while avoiding cuts in service or salaries on the base. The $18-million contract was signed in 1994, and the project was completed in 1996. This case study describes the extent of the retrofit project, the benefits gained from the GHP system, and how financing was managed through a shared energy savings contract.
Click here for the PDF document.

Galt House

Completed in 1984, the Galt House East Hotel consists of 600 hotel rooms, 100 apartments, and an additional 120,000 square feet pf public area. Combined with the Waterfront Office Building (960,000 square feet), the complex represents over 4,700 tons, making it the largest GHP system in the world. This case study describes the project and its cost, system design, and the benefits of the GHP system.
Click here for the PDF document.