100% Geothermal Heating And Cooling For Pennsylvania Project

Can you build a 58 unit residential building in western Pennsylvania and not use conventional HVAC systems? The answer is "yes." The newly opened Retirement Residence at Plum is such a building. The building islocated 17 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in Plum Borough and lacks a cooling tower, a boiler or any HVAC other than a ground coupled water source heat pump system common known as a "geothermal" system using 27 450 foot deep wells on the property. A great thermal envelope makes reliance of the geothermal system practical. The roof has an R50 rating, the triple glazed windows provide an R5 and the walls are rated at R28. Energy Star® testing and verification protocols were used and the owner has applied for LEED® Silver certification.

The project was financed through the sale of low income housing tax credits allocated by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, geothermal tax credits and a loan from Allegheny County. It is especially important to build very...