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After the sod was laid and shrubs planted on the front lawn of the new Dover School, only a few knew that in one small area there are 40 wells, 500 feet deep lined up along 4-150 foot trenches with 40,000 feet of 1" polyethylene pipe snaking through the trenches and in and out of the wells, circulating a methanol water solution for maintaining a comfortable temperature in the school. The Dover School includes Hydro-Temp geothermal heat pump system.
The increased energy efficiency from the system is projected to save approximately $25,000 a year in utility costs and giving them a payback period of about five years. A $10,000.00 grant was received from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to help defray the initial cost of the geothermal heat pump systems. The District is so excited about this system and its projected savings, they will likely utilize this technology in retrofitting some of their other buildings
28 of the 40 wells have water flowing around them, which is an unanticipated bonus. The flowing water will make the system operate even more efficiently and make it possible to add other buildings to it in the future. The whole system uses an energy recovery ventilation system to enhance the geothermal aspect, and state-of-the-art computers to control settings. All the classrooms can be monitored and controlled from the principal's office, and even from his home, if necessary. Temperature settings can be programmed to come on and shut off at certain times, and on certain days.
The unique duct system at Dover School allows for one "unit" to control two rooms at a time, yet each room has its own thermostat control and can be heated or cooled independently. Dover School has 156 tons of geothermal heating and cooling capacity. The constant 57-degree temperature of the ground allows lower pressure on the refrigeration system, which lowers the cost of operation and extends the life of the system. The Environmental Protection Agency says geoexchange is the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available.
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