Nominee #1: Al Wallace for Aspen Overlook Residence, Aspen, Colorado

This project was a landmark project in Aspen due to the complex site conditions restricting the implementation of a geothermal solution. The technical design created by Mr. Wallace not only showed imagination and creativity to create a low energy low carbon heating and cooling system but demonstrated excellence in innovation which reduced energy use by 50% compared to that of a comparable residence. more details

Nominee #2: Tom Wyer for Residential Product Designs

Tom and Geo Flo has been supporting and driving the flow center application through great innovation for many years … back to when the Company started in 1977. His continued leadership and customer centric approach is simply the best in the industry. Tom has developed technology for pump stations that today are the industry standard.

Nominee #3: Jeff Corken of Corken Steel for Norton Commons Residential Community Geothermal Project, Prospect, Kentucky

Construction began in September of 2003, and now Norton Commons consists of more than 1500 homes, multi-family units, and town center businesses. The vision of Norton Commons changed in 2012, when research first began to find a solution to eliminate the noise pollution caused by crowded outdoor condenser units in residential areas. Ultimately, the solution was found with geothermal HVAC technology with the added benefits of renewable efficiency and comfort saving up to 40%-60% on heating and cooling for both residents and businesses. The vision became a reality when combined with the expertise of The Corken Steel Products Company providing engineered solutions from ClimateMaster and the coordination of rigorous drilling schedules with Buecher Drilling. This team is led by Jeff Corken, President of The Corken Steel Products Company, handles load calculations, ground source heat pump specifications, drilling requirements and innovative loop design to accommodate challenges of custom buildings and lot restrictions. Since 2018, Norton Commons requires every home to be built with geothermal HVAC systems now exceeding 500. In addition, business, office buildings exceeding 20,000 square feet, and even the post office have been built and equipped with the same ground source technology. Norton Commons now serves as a national model for renewable community development.  Read More

Nominee #4: Enertech for The Gardens at Arbor Springs

The Gardens at Arbor Springs located in Newnan Georgia is an award-winning, sustainable community. It features Earth Craft Certified Construction, in a total GEOTHERMAL HVAC community! The community is nestled in the beautifully developed Arbor Springs Plantation neighborhood. Homeowners at The Gardens at Arbor Springs enjoy a variety of thoughtfully designed floor plans with customizable courtyards. The Real Estate Sales Team highlighted the Superior efficiency of the homes with special emphasis on the Geothermal HVAC system. Lower monthly utility costs, coupled with longer equipment lifecycle, and the elimination of outdoor noise and sight pollution, were highlighted as advantages of Geothermal especially as it relates to Seniors on fixed incomes. This has proven to be a winning strategy as the community has only 4 homes sites remaining.

Nominee #5: Steven Taylor for Historic Fitch Tavern

The goal of this project successfully replaced a oil as well as gas furnace that inadequately heated a 1710 historic tavern. Ground Loop designed 450’ boreholes, 1¼” pipe, 3” main header pipe to basement, and 175’ per ton of capacity. WaterFurnace Refrigerant/Performance monitoring options were Aurora Web Link Symphony. Web enabled controls, fault notification, variable speed flow centers to minimize pumping power, and a Unico System Green Series air handlers with an ECM blower motor. They created even temperatures floor to ceiling utilizing creative design. The Tavern now has efficient heating AND cooling to help maintain comfort and preserve the building for many years to come.

Nominee #6: John Freitag for Illinois Residential Geothermal Group Buy Programs

This submission is to recognize the efforts of Mr. John Freitag in developing innovative geothermal heat pump (GHP) group-buy programs in Illinois in partnership with municipalities, regional governments, and non-profit organizations. To my knowledge these programs are the first of their kind in the US and provide a model for other groups to increase the wider adoption of this renewable, low-carbon technology to residential property owners. John is currently the Executive Director of the Geothermal Alliance of Illinois (GAOI), the state trade association for the geothermal heat pump industry. He is a 32-year veteran of the electric utility industry, retiring from the Illinois electric cooperatives in 2017. John was instrumental in founding the GAOI in 2008 and oversees comprehensive training and education program for geothermal professionals in the US Midwest. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He has been a strong supporter of geothermal heating and cooling and other renewable energy technologies for many years and has written numerous grants for geothermal funding from government agencies and private foundations. He lives in Springfield, Illinois, where his home has had geothermal heating and cooling since 1999. John is currently supporting three Illinois GHP group-buy programs, in the City of Urbana, in northwestern Illinois, and across Metropolitan Chicago. The first group-buy program administered by the City of Urbana began in the 2021 https://urbanaillinois.us/geothermal and offers residents in three counties in east-central Illinois lower than market rate pricing for GHP installations. This is done through a public education and bulk purchasing program that is modeled after the City’s very successful bulk solar program that is now in its eighth year https://www.growsolar.org/solar-urbana-champaign. John is an instrumental partner in the Geothermal Urbana-Champaign program leading the education and outreach component, which has helped residents learn more about the program and the substantial economic and environmental benefits GHPs provide. Through the first two years, 135 tons of heating and cooling capacity has been installed that has reduced carbon emissions by nearly 150,000 pounds per year. In 2022, the Power-Up NW Illinois program was offered to Jo-Carroll Energy’s, electrical cooperative service area https://www.jocarroll.com/geo-power-hour to save members 30% to 70% on monthly utility costs. The Grow Geo Chicagoland program https://growgeo.org (kicked off in Spring of 2023) offers residents of northeastern Illinois with education and competitive bulk pricing on GHP systems. John and GAOI, together with 35 other municipal, county, and non-profit partners have come together to expand the market for GHPs in the Chicagoland region by offering lower prices for consumers and bigger energy efficiency gains for communities. The program has been so successful in just the first few months that the demand for GHP systems has outpaced the install capacity of the seven companies hired for the build out. As you can see, John’s leadership in the residential geothermal sector has made meaningful advances in promoting the wider option of GHP systems in the heartland of the US. His knowledge and long experience in the geothermal industry has been much appreciated by his partners as they engage residents in this energy transition. Without John’s foresight and overwhelming support of the geothermal community, offering these incentive programs would not have been possible.

Nominee #7: Matthew Desmarais for Peekskill NY Project

Energy Catalyst has been retrofitting ground source heat pump technology to existing hydronic fossil fuel driven heating systems. The Energy Catalyst Double Hybrid Heat Pump easily heats and cools homes with baseboard and radiators. Nearly twice as efficient as other heat pumps. Certified by Energy Star, ½ the installation time, integrated controls for high reliability, produces “free” domestic hot water while in cooling mode, NYSERDA Sponsored Technology in 2021, made in NY, Certified by Energy Star. For a comprehensive overview of the system see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GLhIK9tm4c&t=13s. Energy Catalyst has brought new ideas that work to fix a problem, how to convert homes without duct work to ground source heat pump technology. This is a much needed tool to change over to renewable energy and address carbon reduction in our building stock.

Residential | Commercial | Awards of Excellence

Commercial Innovation Award Nominees

Nominee #1: Brian Urlaub for Sharc/Geoexchange Systems – Transis Model Sharc/Geo

Brian and the team at Salas O’Brien have developed an industry leading modelling software that allows Salas O’Brien to model the lifetime operation of a hybrid SHARC/Geoexchange energy system. The energy and financial modelling allows customers to see the benefits of the hybrid loop for life of the system. The Transis system also allows the designer to model every combination of mechanical systems and show the system comparisons very quickly and accurately. This modelling software is a valuable and essential tool for the geo industry going forward in the age of decarbonization. www.sharcenergy.com

Nominee #2: Doug Hundley for Riverview Health Westfield Hospital

Doug Hundley PE, LEED AP, CGD, CXA leads our design operations at CMTA’s corporate office in Louisville and has contributed to many high-performance projects, including 110+ geothermal HVAC systems. As a member of IGSHPA, he understands the importance of the longevity and sustainability of geothermal systems, as well as the financial impact of recent legislation with the Inflation Reduction Act. Doug leads by example and mentors his team to design innovative and energy-efficient systems. Over the past 20+ years, he has implemented high-performing geothermal systems in facilities across various and complex projects. In2018, Doug and the CMTA team completed the 107,000 SF Riverview Health Westfield Hospital in Westfield, Indiana. The hospital design was required to meet Riverview’s sustainability and energy efficiency goals while maintaining brand consistency. The facility includes a large-scale geothermal system with 130 wells and individually zoned heat pumps to maximize energy efficiency. These pumps provide the majority of the building’s air conditioning. Additionally, the hospital features a high-performance envelope that exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 standards by 9%.

This envelope features a sleek glass exterior that aligns with Riverview branding, maximizes natural daylight and energy performance, and offers expansive views through abundant glass. Additionally, because Westfield Hospital is located at the intersection of two major highways, it is a highly visible facility that can be seen from multiple, high-traffic viewpoints. Since the hospital has a great presence and visibility, a significant project goal was to keep the mechanical equipment out of sight. This was accomplished by placing all equipment in the penthouse, while all mechanical rooms are located throughout the facility. The exhaust systems are an indoor type that is located in mechanical spaces with louvers to the exterior. With the geothermal system eliminating the cooling tower, the MEP systems for the facility are practically invisible. Overall, Doug’s facility design and implementation prioritize both function and aesthetics to create an optimal hospital environment for patients in the surrounding community. The Riverview Westfield Hospital has set a new standard for energy efficiency. With an EUI of 96.7, it is now officially the most energy-efficient hospital in the country. Doug and his team’s acceptance of the challenge and, most importantly, their ability to meet all the owner’s goals is a testament to the dedication and innovation required to achieve such impressive results. This project has received the 2019 AIA Healthcare Design Award and the2019 Indianapolis Chamber Monumental Achievement Award for its high-performance. Related project link: https://www.cmta.com/results/case-studies/riverview-health-westfield-hospital.

Nominee #3: Enertech for Coveyou Scenic Farm Market

Coveyou Scenic Farm Market has been farmed by the Coveyou family for over 144 years. The farm transitioned from dairy to cereal grain, and under David Coveyou’s ownership, it offers certified organic produce, flowers, and other seasonal items for local and regional markets. David needed viable production year-round for staffing and profitability, which is why he chose geothermal to heat the greenhouse, provide cooling for the walk-in and reach-in coolers, and power a heat removal system that brings the holding tank down to 28°F. David said, “The thing I like most about our GeoComfort System is that it provides energy and economic efficiency that allows us as a farm to operate a higher profit margins.”

Nominee #4: Reaves Christie for 240 Markland

Geosource Energy approached this project with best practice design as well as overcame many obstacles! They retrofitted Retrofit Program: (in feet and metrics)-10 story & 135K-sq.ft/12.5K-sq.m1,305 kBH/382 kWth & 105 RT/363 kWth-added 3\” exterior insulation, 4\”roof insulation and double pane windows. Electric baseboards replaced with Water Source Heat pumps integrated with in-suite ERVs2. They added new:(planned)-9 story and 205K-sq.ft/18.7K-sq.m3,525 kBH/1,033 kWth & 245 RT/846 kWth3. Constraints included:-GHXsize: 113 Boreholes 2,400sqm- 3,200sqm-Site Area: 12,700sqm-Partially Occupied Retrofit serviced by May 2022-Uninterrupted Service in retrofit-Mature trees-Working area only1,250 sqm-Potential for vertical boreholes at 15’ spacing: 59, need 113Solution:Angledboreholes.This project combines old with new and show how constrained space can be overcome in a successful ground source heat pump heating and cooling project. Slide deck demonstrating project is last presentation at this link: https://www.ny-geo.org/assets/pdf/2023+NY-GEO+Top+Jobs+Presentations/

Nominee #5: Johnathan Stewart for Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS): Graceland Middle School & Holabird Academy

Located two miles apart in Baltimore’s inner city, two existing, underserved schools were replaced with the city’s first two zero energy schools. CMTA’s Johnathan Stewart served as the MEP engineer, Net Zero and Sustainability/Energy consultant for these two new, K-8 schools. With identical footprints, each spanning 94,000 sq. ft. over two stories, Graceland Park – O’Donnell Heights Elementary/Middle School and Holabird Middle School provide students with state-of-the-art, 21st century learning environments. Completed in 2021, the schools testify to BCPS’s commitment to providing students with comfortable and sustainable educational facilities. Based on guidance from Johnathan Stewart and the CMTA team, BCPS decided to challenge traditional sustainability and energy efficiency goals, electing to build new prototype schools that would be designed for zero energy. To achieve these goals, Graceland and Holabird schools implemented an innovative geothermal wellfield system approach that allows the building heat pump condenser water loop to operate independently of the condenser water circulated through the geothermal wellfield. There is a set of base-mounted geothermal wellfield pumps that flow water through the wellfield only at the rate required to match the true load of the building. Each heat pump has a dedicated in-line circulator pump that is only operated when that piece of equipment has a call for heating or cooling. This load-matching system approach reduces excess pumping energy while ensuring that the interior heat pump water loop is optimized to allow the equipment to operate efficiently. Both ground source heat pump systems were purchased through a grant from the Maryland Energy Authority—allowing BCPS to remain within its traditional project budget. Along with the geothermal HVAC system, strategic building orientations, roof coverage PV, and other energy-saving measures have enabled these buildings to achieve Net Zero Energy, with performed EUIs of 24 (Graceland) and 22 (Holabird)—more than a 300%improvement from their average facilities. The schools’ energy efficiency provides utility cost savings for the district, which can be redistributed to improve the educational experience of students and staff. Johnathan’s 15+ years of experience in designing and implementing high-efficiency systems was critical to the operational success of BCPS’s new schools. The previous two schools totaled133,700 square feet and cost $248,000 in gas/electric/fuel oil #2 bills per year. The new schools total 188,000 square feet and cost $63,000 in gas and electricity per year. From the beginning, these schools were designed with a significant decarbonization goal. As a result, they eliminate 195 metric tons of carbon emissions each year. Both schools are LEED Platinum and Zero Energy certified and perform better than predicted by the energy model. By designing these two schools as identical Zero Energy/Zero Operational Carbon schools, with only a 180-degree rotation difference, BCPS has a unique opportunity to use them as learning labs for the school district and design teams. Rarely are facilities operated by the same owner, have identical massing, are located in the same climate zone, and provided with the same MEP systems. This unusual opportunity allows BCPS to adjust one building—such as increased ventilation or expanded run time on HVAC equipment—to understand how this affects the performance of the building. Through effective project management, Johnathan Stewart ensured that energy-efficient design principles were incorporated into the schools’ MEP systems. Balancing BCPS’s sustainability goals with their traditional budget, Johnathan and his team found innovative solutions that met both requirements. His leadership of this project is integral to these buildings’ real-life operational success, which will benefit BCPS, their students and staff, the community, and the environment for years to come. Related project link: https://www.cmta.com/results/case-studies/graceland-holabird-schools

Nominee #6: Johannes Rosemann for The Pierce Arrow Lofts Geothermal Conversion

This project takes a 158,000 sq. ft. building, built in 1908 that was placed on National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is one of the 2 only historic buildings in the United States with a concrete Barrel Roof. It served as the administration building for the Pierce arrow production facility from 1908-1938. The conversion includes: 127 Apartments, 7,500 sq. ft. Restaurant, completely heated and cooled by Geothermal, 100% of the Domestic Hot Water Supplied by Geothermal. Installation includes: 50 Boreholes 350ft Deep spaced 20ft apart, closed Loop 1 ½ HDPE U-Bend Graphite enhanced grout, 333 Tons of Heating and Cooling Load Closed Loop system with 50 – 350ft deep Boreholes, 3 Flow center 147 Forced Air Heat pumps, 6 – 5 Ton Vapor Injection High Temperature Water-Water Units, 8 – 162 Gallon High Efficiency Storage Tanks. This project demonstrates a super reuse of an iconic treasured building. Old meets new.

Nominee #7: James Thomas for Moonshot Farm

Jim Thomas designed a geothermal system to heat our greenhouses, enabling customer to grow cut flowers year-round with minimal carbon footprint. They now grow and harvest flowers 52 weeks a year, selling them at a farm stand, local farmers markets, and via our bouquet-of-the-month flower CSA. Moonshot Farm knows what they are undertaking is ambitious, and possibly a bit crazy – but they have a dream and we are trying to “shoot for the moon” to bring it to life. Jim undertook a project that others were skeptical to undertake and proved it could be done. This leads the way for more sustainable project applications using ground source heat pumps and reducing our carbon foot print. The project consisted of: The Basics: “Long tunnel” is 96’ long by 34’ wide – about 3264 sq. ft. on set hut style with steel tubular ribs, Double layer 6 mil poly sheeting with air gap @ R 1.8 Air gap maintained by small muffin fan 2’ deep vertical fiberglass band to inhibit heat transfer 8’ wide sliding doors on each end w-brush sealing Dual shuttered air vents with exhaust fans, Manual rollup side curtains for fresh air, Plants grown directly in floor soil – USDA requirement. The Loop:1.5 Acre pasture adjacent to tunnel – ideal for horizontal Selected high performance Twister pipe by Agreenability2100’ pipe in7 trenches 6’ deep Low outside Head loss @ 10 Feet of Head (FOH)Retained Twister center corrugated pipe above ground to\tdampen field with water High efficiency pumping with GeoFlo NP-Multi with Grundfos Magna3 variable ECM pump set at constant pressure. Oversized HDPE to bring total head loss to about 40FOH. https://www.moonshotfarm.com/post/moonshot-farm-in-nj-awarded-usda-grant-for-geothermal-greenhouse

Nominee #8: Andrew Stumpf for University of Illinois Facility at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Andrew Stumpf has been the pioneer who transforms geosciences into the innovations for commercial projects. His advanced geothermal property analysis laboratory work and subsurface geologic expertise that has been making the GHP projects more efficient and affordable in both Commercial and District scales. One of the most recent examples is the innovative design on the geothermal systems in the new Campus Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For this project, his innovative approach resulted in the reduction of borehole numbers from 60 to 40, the payback years of this project reduced from 40 years to 28 years. The system reduces the building’s energy consumption by 65percent compared to a typical heating/cooling installation, saving about $45,000per year (https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/project/geothermal-campus-instructional-facility-cif). This project is not only making the University of Illinois to consider installing geothermal systems in all future buildings, but also brought a greater awareness in the Champaign-Urbana community and in the news media (https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/university-illinois/renewable-energy-uis-new-campus-instructional-facility-can-dig-it/article_b2a12d7d-ad2a-5842-8be9-06de5723adff.html). Moreover, Dr. Stumpf has been serving on IGSHPA’s Research Committee since 2021, and Executive Scientific Committee for the 2022 and 2024 Research Conferences.

Nominee #9: Massmann Geothermal for Camp Tiko Discovery Center

The Camp Teko Discovery Center is a uniquely designed multi-function building primarily focused on helping children learn about sustainability and how to be good stewards of our environment.  With its articulating solar panels mounted to the south-facing wall of windows allowing structure shading and clean power generation, the Discovery Center mates ground source geothermal heat pumps for maximum energy savings.  The Geothermal infrastructure consists of a 30-ton closed loop vertical geothermal heat exchanger, two GeoComfort water to water ground source heat pumps for in-floor radiant heat, and five GeoComfort water to air ground source heat pumps for forced air cooling.  These ground source heat pumps and loop field are tied to a hydraulic separator and Magna pumps for maximum system efficiency.  All of this allows the Discovery Center to have a zero-carbon footprint and to be a model of energy efficiency for mixed use structures now and in the future.   Read more

Residential | Commercial | Awards of Excellence