Page 39 - NY Cooperator Expo April 2019

YOU’LL LEARN SO MUCH YOUR HEAD COULD EXPLODE. (Our lawyers said we had to warn you.) NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN — THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 9–4:30 FREE REGISTRATION: COOPEXPO.COM THE COOPERATOR EXPO 2019 WHERE BUILDINGS MEET SERVICES COOPERATOR.COM THE COOPERATOR — APRIL 2019 39 erator spoke with some experts about the ergy Tax Credit, which currently applies to times they prioritize the cheapest upfront eventually hitting a wall with its proposal. present and future of geothermal as per- tains to multifamily residential communi- ties. Residential Use Geothermal heating and cooling still ter in Kentucky than, say, New York City, York, geothermal is viable but expensive, required to obtain an engineer’s report at has a relatively small footprint in the resi- dential realm, so many local engineers and space is required to get a system in place. energy experts have only anecdotal infor- mation on how it’s being applied in homes projects, mainly related to universities,” able to certain approved ground source tial problems, as \\\[installation\\\] may inter- thus far. “Obviously I have familiarity and un- derstanding of \\\[geothermal\\\] technology, “And I worked on one geothermal field in da.ny.gov/Contractors/Find-a-Contractor/ but unfortunately we don’t have any expe- rience as it applies to community associa- tions utilizing it,” says Robert Holdsworth, issue with doing geothermal in the city is Vice President of Engineering at Evolution that it’s a denser environment, and geo- Energy Partners, which has locations in thermal needs more New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachu- setts. “I know that it’s big in Europe – pre- dominantly in Iceland, I believe. Here in the aforementioned the States it’s starting to slowly catch on as project by locat- planned communities are trying to go net- zero with combinations of geothermal, so- lar, etc. I know that there was a large com- munity in either Kentucky or Tennessee neath the building. where every home developed had its own But usually, it’s go- geothermal.” There does happen to be a Kentucky lenging. Especially community that fits the bill: Norton Com- mons, located in the city of Prospect. Ac- cording to Energy Manager Today, the ing building. Any project – on which construction began in land area needs to be evaluated to ascertain outdoor HVAC component. So often you that the relatively cheap cost of electricity December of 2015 – aims to be the nation’s whether it’s even feasible to do geothermal see it as a go-to solution for higher-end here in the state keeps geothermal – and largest 100 percent geothermal community, and, if is, then you’d look to augment it residents simply for that reason. And on even solar – from becoming economically and currently includes over 1,200 residenc- es and 60 businesses, with several schools, tem that can possibly support the building’s ergy performance of the home in terms of cipal with The Falcon Group, an engineer- parks, pools, and green spaces. Individual existing HVAC.” heat pumps for each unit and an under- ground system of geothermal loops elimi- nate the need for outdoor air conditioning geothermal. “Geothermal is pretty expen- units, which saves space, reduces noise, and sive, and in my experience, associations are cuts down on utility bills. A geothermal de- velopment like this also stands to benefit Boese, Owner of The Daylight Savings sachusetts, had an association investigate from the federal Residential Renewable En- units put on the market between January 1, cost and worry about utility bills later. We 2017 through 2021. Disassociation The reason why geothermal works bet- is that a certain amount of free, workable and the state tax incentives don’t apply to their cost regarding the impact to the com- “I have done a number of geothermal says Brian Malone, Associate Principal heat pump (GSHP) designers and install- at Elara Engineering in Hillside, Illinois. ers. More info can be found at www.nyser- the Chicago area as part of a new construc- tion/major renovation project. The obvious land area. We were able to adjust for ing a portion of the geothermal system in the walls under- ing to prove chal- if you’re looking to augment an exist- most likely with a small stand-alone sys- The cost of installation is another factor projects we’ve done, we’ve seen some of the firm that has several locations in the U.S., that limits urban associations from going lowest energy use intensities (EUIs) after including New York, New Jersey, Florida, usually on a shoestring budget,” says Adam Property Management in Tyngsboro, Mas- Company in Goshen, New York. “Often- do see geothermal installed in a lot of mu- nicipal-type facilities, however, and I have tic system,” Chmilarski recalls. “An owner one in my house, but unfortunately, in New wishing to install geothermal should be associations.” (Tax rebates in New York State are avail- Ground-Source-Heat-Pump-Systems.) Suburban Potential A more sprawling, suburban community owners are responsible for the \\\[equipment\\\] association would potentially be unencum- bered by the issues that ciated damage/maintenance to common limit geothermal acces- sibility in the cities and, ing on the scope, geothermal may actually as such, it could prove a qualify as an improvement and require a more viable option for vote of the community, or even consent of those properties. “In the suburbs, I change to any common area.” think it’s very practical, and a potentially great application for geo- thermal,” says Malone. mate, or market factors. “One of the things cli- ents really respond to Florida – often in older properties or cli- in regard to geothermal ents looking to abandon their wells – and is that there’s no visible we understand the technology, but I believe top of that, it just really improves the en- heating and cooling efficiencies and, in the ing, architecture and energy conservation post-occupancy analyses.” In 2015, Anita Chmilarski of Linear here is such that wells get clogged, lose ef- the geothermal option for its community, “The request was denied in that in- stance, mostly due to issues with the sep- mon areas and building. Where there is septic involved, that also presents poten- fere with the components which serve the community. If a proposal is approved, the owner would be required to enter an ease- ment agreement recordable at the Registry of Deeds to ensure they and any future maintenance, replacement, and any asso- areas resulting from installation. Depend- the mortgage holder if it requires a major Unforgiving Terrains In some areas, geothermal is widely im- practical simply due to geographical, cli- “We’ve come across a few systems in competitive,” says William Pyznar, a prin- and Connecticut. “Also, the water quality ficiency and need to be re-drilled.” “The viability of geothermal is going to “The obvious issue with doing geothermal in the city is that it’s a denser environment, and geothermal needs more land area.” — Brian Malone continued on page 48