As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Ann Arbor Public Schools is moving forward with geothermal systems across the district. Three schools already have geothermal installed, four schools are in the process of installing systems, and two more have plans for systems that will be initiated as soon as possible.
Jason Bing is the Director of Capital Programs for AAPS and has been overseeing geothermal projects for the school district. From managing the complex budgeting processes and competing for the few available drilling rigs, to overseeing construction and fielding complaints about the noise, it’s a big job. Bing is excited about the potential savings of geothermal, but won’t know dollar amounts until the systems are fully operational. “By converting to an all-electric solution, which geothermal allows, and then developing a plan to offset the remaining energy usage with clean energy assets, we can potentially significantly reduce our operating costs with a reduction in utility costs,” he explains. AAPS already generates 5.8 MW of solar — more than any other school district in the state — and may add even more in the future.
Even with the high up-front costs, Bing is optimistic that AAPS will save money in the long run. Utility rates are rising swiftly, and “it’s just going to get worse with all of our data center investments and the heavy investment in electrical infrastructure right now,” Bing says.