Comments on: Geothermal energy project will cut S&T’s CO2 emissions

By: Ryan Reed

Ryan Reed — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:26:40 +0000

I think geothermal energy is a great idea! However, I was wondering what would happen with the old power plant. Will it be retrofitted to house the new technology??

By: Paul Worsey

Paul Worsey — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:28:21 +0000

Well I actually heat my house with a heat pump that uses wells for heat transfer and seems to be very economical although it cost a pretty penny when I built my house 5 years ago. But I hate the thought of the cost of repair when it ups and dies on me. That’s going to be expensive! It’s a good job I am one of the few people fortunately wealthy and loud mouthed to put my money where my mouth is, rather than a poor person that can’t afford the extravagant investment. However, I have great pride in that it is powered by nearly 100% coal and uranium! The majority of what we need to live comes from the ground.
Hopefully the crazies don’t start claiming that all these heat pumps are chilling mother earth and the planet is going to turn into a deep freeze. 🙂

By: Jeff Schramm

Jeff Schramm — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:26:33 +0000

I always liked the idea that a substantial portion of our heat came from burning wood. This historian appreciates that even at a technological university like S&T, the oldest fuels are still used.

By: Milton J Murry PE

Milton J Murry PE — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:40:52 +0000

You will be very pleased with the perfomance of this system. Couple it with a water source heat pump system with east, west, north, south and core zoning and you will have a very comfortable HVAC system for occupants. Remember computer server rooms give off lots of heat and must be constantly cool. If buildings are 24 hour a day occupied be sure enough pipe is in the ground.
I did a City Hall at Park Hills Missouri using mine water and the operating costs were less than $1.00 per year per sq. foot.
The electricity could come from solar, wind or nuclear energy.
Next Project. Electric cars and charging infrastructure to support.

By: Matthew Coy

Matthew Coy — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:19:17 +0000

smoke stacks as in the steam towers? for an engineering school, there is not much education on how things are constructed.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:06:13 +0000

Paul, done well geothermal heat pumps are vastly more efficient than traditional generation, so whatever the energy input for this system it is likely to be at least 50 percent less than the coal/wood-chip option.

By: Paul Worsey

Paul Worsey — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:06:40 +0000

So we are going to use electricity from Missouri coal fired generation plants to run geothermal heat pumps? way to go! Out of sight out of mind.

By: Benjamin P. Haring

Benjamin P. Haring — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:11:29 +0000

I agree with Dr. Hogan. Drill away! Plus, there would be no more towering smoke stacks.

By: John P. Hogan

John P. Hogan — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:12:26 +0000

Drill Baby! Drill!