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Daemen College Launches Alternative Energy Geothermal Project
$295,200 Initiative to Develop Geothermal Technology as Model for Energy and Environmental Efficiency in Heating and Cooling Older BuildingsDaemen College is developing a model for energy and environmental efficiency in the heating and cooling of older, inefficient buildings on college and university campuses in the Buffalo-Niagara region. The Daemen College Alternative Energy Geothermal Demonstration Program is an applied research and development project to evaluate the use of geo-thermal technology as a model for energy and environmental efficiency in heating and cooling.
Federal funding for the green project – $295,200 – was secured by Representative Thomas M. Reynolds (R-Clarence).
"Daemen College expresses its sincere appreciation to Congressman Reynolds in making this environmentally friendly initiative possible," said Daemen College President Martin Anisman. "It is important to note that this particular project, because of its environmental impact, will benefit the Western New York community, as well as Daemen College.”
The Geothermal Demonstration Program is linked to the ongoing construction of the new Daemen Center for Information, Research, and Community Programs. Scheduled to open in January, 2009, the $15 million, 45,000 square foot Information Center will not only meet all requirements of grant funding agencies for “Green Building” designation, but will be an example of state-of-the art environmental conservation design. The design for the Center is currently registered with the United States Green Building Council, and is striving for Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation. It is being built with green design features – to conserve energy, water, and other resources, maximize the use of recycled materials, and minimize the use of toxic materials. Conceived and designed as an integrated building system incorporating environmentally friendly design features, the Center will be a unique addition to the Daemen campus.
The objective of the Geothermal Demonstration project is to design geothermal heating and air conditioning for Duns Scotus Hall, a 120,000 sq. ft academic and administrative building located on the Daemen College campus in Amherst NY. It currently is not air conditioned; moreover, the heating-only system is comprised of unit ventilators and hot water fin radiation served by a gas fired boiler which has been in service for 45 years.
In September of 2006, Daemen College contracted a company to install a geothermal closed-loop vertical test well and conduct a 24-hour thermal conductivity test to determine if the College could conduct geo-thermal energy on site. The results indicated the well site on the Amherst campus indeed had potential for this technology. With matching funds from New York State Energy Resource and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Daemen is conducting a technical assistance study. Funding from the Department of Energy will be used toward the engineering and design of the use of geothermal alternative energy, with the retrofit of Duns Scotus to follow.
The research design and results of the Daemen College Alternative Energy Geothermal Demonstration Program will be disseminated to a variety of constituents (e.g. educators, physical plant managers) in the Western New York community. The College will compile information and announce its availability to other companies, organizations, and higher education institutions that may be interested in using geothermal energy for heating and cooling older buildings. Information will be made available on the Daemen website and will be shared with the Department of Energy.