Document Type
Paper
Abstract
Calvin College is considering an addition to the West Wing of the Spoelhof Center to provide additional space for the art and business programs. The construction of this new addition provides the opportunity to investigate the feasibility of installing new, sustainable technology. This semester the students of Engineering 333 were presented with the following challenge: “What it will take for Calvin College to install a geothermal HVAC system for the West Wing?” A geothermal HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system utilizes the relatively constant temperature of the earth to provide heating during winter and cooling during summer. Geothermal HVAC systems require a below ground network of pipes, called a bore field, a heat pump, and a distribution system within the building. Several considerations had to be taken into account for a geothermal HVAC feasibility analysis, such as increased initial cost, ongoing costs, LEED rating contribution, and increased sustainability. In order to analyze all of the different considerations associated with a geothermal HVAC system the class was broken down into five groups: LEED/Energy Modeling, Infrastructure, Below Ground, Above Ground, and Financial.
Publication Date
12-11-2012
Recommended Citation
2012 Fall ENGR333, "2012 Fall ENGR333 Project Final Report" (2012). ENGR 333. 61.
https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/engr_333/61
Included in
Environmental Engineering Commons, Geotechnical Engineering Commons, Sustainability Commons