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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 17, 2011 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Link Government Services Center Geothermal HVAC Analysis /Cost Estimate <br />DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Attachment A — Schematic Probable Cost Pam Jones, 919 - 245 -2652 <br />Estimate Jeff Thompson, 919 - 245 -2658 <br />Attachment B — Well Field Location <br />Illustrative <br />PURPOSE: To review the analysis and related schematic probable cost estimate for the <br />installation of geothermal wells and related HVAC equipment for the Link Government Services <br />Center; and authorize staff to proceed with formal Construction Document preparation and <br />bidding of the project. <br />BACKGROUND: On September 21, 2010, the Board of Commissioners deferred the <br />construction of the second phase of the Link Government Services Center which in large part <br />consisted of the Commissioners' Meeting Room. As part of that deferral, the BOCC learned of <br />the allocation of grant funds originating from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act <br />( "ARRA ") for Energy Conservation for Local Governments. Staff had reserved funding in the <br />amount of $177,675 for the purpose of supplementing the installation of the highly energy <br />efficient geothermal heat pump system to replace the end -of -life conventional HVAC system <br />originally installed in the Link Center in 1992. The BOCC supported the staff recommendation <br />to engage a design firm and analyze the feasibility of a geothermal installation for the Link <br />Center. <br />A geothermal heating and cooling system is a sustainable building system that utilizes the Earth <br />as either a heat source in winter or a heat sink in summer, and distributes heated or cooled air <br />to the building (or series of buildings) as needed. In general, the Earth's crust maintains a <br />constant temperature of approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit no matter the surface climate <br />condition. Tapping into this temperature constant allows the geothermal system to use less <br />energy to heat and cool surface structures to a comfortable level. <br />The geothermal system saves approximately 30 -35% in energy use annually over conventional <br />systems, reduces greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, lowers overall maintenance <br />requirements, is less costly to operate, and eliminates the need for noisy, obtrusive outdoor <br />mechanical equipment. The geothermal system is slightly more expensive to install over <br />conventional systems, but this first cost is typically recovered through energy savings in <br />approximately 5 to 10 years depending on use and local climate conditions. <br />In January of this year, staff interviewed four consulting engineering firms with experience in <br />geothermal HVAC applications. Staff selected and engaged Reece, Noland & McElrath, Inc. <br />