Geothermal Update

Geothermal Technology May be Coming to Wawasee Middle School

In an effort to reduce energy costs and continue to save money in the future, the Wawasee Community School Corporation is looking into the possibility of utilizing the geothermal energy in the area. Geothermal energy is the heat contained within the earth and is a clean, reliable and renewable resource. It can be used as an energy efficient heating and cooling alternative. Information provided by the company, Performance Services, suggests that the location of Wawasee Middle School is likely to have significant geothermal potential. Recent upgrades to the heating and cooling system at Wawasee Middle School make that location ideal to best use this natural resource. The first step in the process is to drill a small test well.

Drilling a test well will provide data on both heat transfer and the type of geology at the site. This information will help determine if the site is suitable and aid in projecting the cost of installing a geothermal system. The test well will be approximately 6-8 inches in diameter and roughly 500 feet deep and it will not impact the soccer fields. The drilling of the test well is expected to take just a couple of days and the results reported back in a week or so. During the first two days of the project what will be visible is a truck-mounted drill rig. Once the well is drilled, the site will be fenced off and the area secured until the necessary data is collected. The test well site will either be fully restored or converted into a production well if the project is approved by the School Board. If approved, anywhere from 30 to 50 production wells would be installed in an open area just east of the tennis courts. Once installed, the wells are covered with top soil and are not noticeable.