b'OPERATIONSSDF 57of geothermal technology to reduce SDFs carbon emissions circulated through the terminalincreasing indoor air quality and by 80%, improve air quality for passengers and airport employees,improving passenger comfort. reduce ongoing HVAC maintenance and save $400,000 annually inGeothermal technology works by using the earths natural utility costs.temperature control capabilities to heat water in the winter and cool The $21.7 million terminal HVAC enhancement is a key piece init in the summer, and then distribute it throughout the terminals Phase 2 of SDF NEXT, a three-phase capital improvement programmechanical rooms. For air conditioning, water circulates through pipes that commits about $500 million in airfield and terminal upgradesand absorbs heat from inside the terminal. That water then moves to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of alternative fuelthrough pipes, and heat is transferred to the ground. Water in the sources and enhance the overall customer experience. In additionpipes is cooled and moves back into the terminal, pushing cold air. to the new geothermal system, Phase 2 includes completeThe geothermal system at SDF includes 648 wells, each drilled refurbishment of the mechanical and electrical systems throughout500 feet deep, making it the largest geothermal project at any U.S. the terminal building as well as upgrades to lighting, fire safety andairport, according to project officials. Existing hot and chilled water security technology, baggage handling system improvements andair handling units are being replaced with geothermal heat pumps restroom renovations.during the multi-phase project. Removing old systems that require Phase 1 of SDF NEXT delivered seven projects, including anlarge, loud cooling towers and boilers will create space for future Airport Operations Command Center, security upgrades and a facility expansion.new rental car facility. Phase 3 will focus on exterior terminal upgrades, an expanded security checkpoint and a new FederalTesting the Terrain and Financial ViabilityInspection Station.Test wells at the 1,500-acre airport confirmed the viability of leveraging geothermal technology, and the systems longevity and Taking a Beat low maintenance costs helped drive the project forward. Sinnwell In 2018, when the airport was updating its Master Plan, CMTAnotes that geothermal is not an available option everywhere, so conducted a full assessment of the Jerry E. Abramson Terminal,the test wells were imperative. Geology of the land is a deciding including a detailed examination and analysis of the existing buildingfactor, and CMTA used heat transfer calculations to determine that systems. All of our mechanical systems were fully depreciated,the system would, in fact, be enough to support SDFs terminal reports Mann. building. As it turns out, it was absolutely a viable project here, Initially, the airports plan was for a traditionalsays Sinnwell. HVAC system replacement, one-for-one.Initial investments and the expected payback were other factors However, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed theaffecting SDFs decision to move forward, Mann notes. The airport planning process and provided the team timereceived $10.6 million from an FAA Voluntary Airport Low Emissions to reflect. We started thinking about what(VALE) grant, which covered the cost of the geothermal well field we could do better in the terminal building,and piping infrastructure that connects to the terminal building. recalls Brian Sinnwell, chief operating officerCreated in 2004, VALE helps airports meet their state-related at SDF. In this case, better meant improvingBRIAN SINNWELL responsibilities outlined in the Clean Air Act. sustainability, saving energy, decreasing energyBurke acknowledges that the initial investment for a geothermal costs and enhancing air quality.system may sound steep, but those costs are offset quickly with Looking for a more creative and sustainable HVAC strategysavings from reduced energy consumption. By the time were made perfect sense with the airports existing system reachingdone here [at SDF], weve projected they will have a 40% raw the end of its useful life just as the pandemic prompted moreenergy reduction from where they started in 2019, ultimately discussion about indoor quality, Sinnwell explains.taking the energy usage factor from 212 to 150, which is a pretty To find a better way, the airport partneredsignificant jump and a very low resultant for an airport terminal. with mechanical/electrical/plumbingThat is expected to translate into $400,000 less in operating engineering firm CMTA, a company withcosts per year. Burke further points out that geothermal systems extensive experience in sustainable energyare resilient and reliable because they are not susceptible to wind that has installed more than 6,500 milesand lightening damage like traditional rooftop units.of geothermal infrastructure. Bryan Burke,LRAA [Louisville Regional Airport Authority] found the value in CMTAs design team project manager and animplementing a sustainable HVAC and electrical system, and, not electrical engineer based at the firms LouisvilleBRYAN BURKE only that, reap the benefits of all of the energy savings that come headquarters, explains that geothermal isalong with it and the reduction in carbon footprint, he summarizes. a renewable and more sustainable technology to replace SDFs conventional HVAC systems. The clean, reliable and renewableThe new systems lifespan is expected to be 20 years longer geothermal energy will reduce the airports reliance on fossil fuelsthan a traditional HVAC system, and it is much easier to maintain, and decrease its carbon footprint by 80%, Burke adds. The newMann notes. Combined with the return on investment, It all made HVAC system also increases the amount of outside air that issense, he explains. AirportImprovement.comNovember | December 2024'