Geothermal District Heating and Cooling in Truckee, California.
Team GeoDavis
2023 U.S. Department of Energy
Geothermal Collegiate Competition
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Who are we?
GeoDavis is a group of Environmental Policy and Management Masters students at UC Davis who are interested in energy and planning. We are motivated to study and implement clean energy technologies and policies.
Through this project, our goal is to provide information on the implementation, incentives, stakeholders, and costs for implementing a GDHC system.
What are Ground Source Heat Pumps?
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) utilize the constant temperatures in the Earth as a heating and cooling mechanism for infrastructure (DOE, 2023). These systems are long lasting, reliable, and cost-effective. We estimate that our proposed system of three GSHPs will pay for itself in under six years.
Learn More
2022
"How it Works: Ground Source Heat Pumps"
NYSERDA. (2022, December 9). How it works: Ground source (geothermal) Heat Pumps (GSHP). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhXUV2Xm5fQ
Vertical Loop System
For this project proposal, we are proposing a vertical closed loop system (pictured above).
2023
Department of Energy. (2023). Geothermal heat pumps. Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps
Our Project
Residents of Truckee are strongly advocating for ambitious climate goals. The town has set clean energy goals of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2050 (Keep Truckee Green, 2022).
Building energy use comprises 59% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions (Keep Truckee Green, 2023). Due to Truckee’s unique landscape, construction of a geothermal district heating and cooling system will help decrease building emissions.
Proposed Site
Picture of the football field that would host the site.
Proposed Site
2023
Video of the proposed site where the GDHC would be placed.
Stakeholders
The proposed project has had wide support from the community. Various groups that support our goals include:
Town of Truckee, Truckee-Donner Public Utility District, Citizens Climate Lobby Truckee Chapter(CCL), Youth Climate Action Team, Truckee Unified School District, SugarPine Engineering, Truckee High School Students, Climate Transformation Alliance, 100% Renewable Truckee.
GeoDavis on a tour of the proposed site with representatives from Citizens Climate Lobby and the Youth Climate Action Team
Student Support
The support for environmental programs at the school district is apparent throughout the campuses. Multiple art installations and infographics are available for perusing while walking through the site.
Kiera Scott, Leader of the Tahoe Youth Action Team and student at Truckee High School, is a strong supporter of implementing geothermal heat pumps at the campuses so the district can meet carbon reduction goals.
Join us on a site Tour
Project Motivations and Overview
The video below details who we are, the team’s motivation behind the project, and how it will benefit the Town of Truckee. It also details the challenges and highlights that our team faced while developing the proposal.
SITE SELECTION DETAILS
$163,975 ESTIMATED ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS
Truckee High School (A)
Truckee Elementary School (B) Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District Office Building (C) Vertical loop system installed in school fields (D)
59% OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN TRUCKEE ARE FROM BUILDINGS.
GEOTHERMAL ADVANTAGES
RELIABLE HEATING/COOLING
Geothermal piping systems are underground and unaffected by snow
COST SAVINGS
Despite upfront investment, we estimate it will take 5.2 years to pay itself back in savings
ADVANCE TOWARDS DECARBONIZATION GOALS
By reducing reliance on fossil fuels like natural gas, changing to geothermal aligns with local, state, and federal greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Get in Touch
slcollins@ucdavis.edu
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