ECONAR^® Energy Systems - Commercial Case Study
Otsego Elementary School - Otsego, Minnesota

Why does it seem that everyone likes to hold events at the Otsego Elementary School? Because it is the most comfortably conditioned school in the Elk River Area School District. Instead of a few large heating and cooling units servicing large zones in the building, each room has its own ECONAR GeoSource 2000 heat pump. This means that each room is perfectly conditioned, and does not become overheated or undercooled. Also, the earth loop has the ability to be shut down during periods of moderate use, or when different areas of the school are heating and cooling at the same time. This increases system efficiency by reducing the energy required to run the earth loop pumps.

Geo$ense

The Otsego Elementary School is the only school in the district that has full cooling capabilities in all rooms, including the gymnasium. Even with this additional load, it is still the most efficient HVAC system in the school district, as well as the most comfortable. In addition to the savings seen for heating and cooling the building, all of the domestic hot water used in the building is heated with GeoSource 2000 Domestic Hot Water units, which are much more efficient than conventional water heaters.

Physical Data

• 82,000 square feet, Built in 1994
  
• 459 Holes 70 feet Deep & 64,260 feet of Pipe
  
• 284 Tons Capacity
  
• Utilizes 78 ECONAR GeoSource Heat Pumps
  
• Architect – Korsunky Krank Erickson, Minneapolis, MN
  
• Engineer – Michaud Cooley Erickson, Minneapolis, MN
  
• Mechanical Contractor – Eagan and Sons, Minneapolis, MN
  
• Earth Loop Contractor – Falk Brothers, Hankinson, ND

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