Geothermal Project

By Jennifer Raley, Cumberland Times News, Md.

Jul. 27–CUMBERLAND — The geothermal conversion project at the Allegany College of Maryland physical education building is under way.

In mid-June, Wayne’s Water ‘N’ Wells of Oakland began to dig the 300-foot wells in the area of the exterior track closest to the Cumberland Country Club, according to Mona Clites, dean of administrative services at ACM.

Eighty wells will be dug to convert the 34,000-square-foot building to a geothermal system. R.H. Lapp & Sons of Cumberland will convert some of the equipment inside the building so it can work with the new geothermal system, according to Clites.

“This will be a much more energy-efficient system,” said Clites.

In the winter, geothermal systems transfer heat from the ground into the building, and in the summer, the heat is transferred back into the ground.

“The benefit will be cost savings for the future — not only cost savings but clean energy as well,” said ACM President Bruce Exstrom. “With aging infrastructure, converting to this type of energy will ensure our facilities are used for many years to come.”

The entire geothermal project is expected to cost about $800,000 and should be finished by late September, according to Clites.

Currently, the building uses electric and liquid propane heat.

ACM already has geothermal systems at its Everett and Bedford campuses.

Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.

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