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energy wise


Can heat pumps solve the demand crisis? Co-op-sponsored Geo-Validation Project will collect real data on geothermal savings


By Maria Crowder WESTERN FARMER'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE


Electric, is on an energy efficiency mission. WFEC aims to save 30 to 50 megawatts (MW) of future generation capacity needs—and save co-op members over $50 million by holding off the need to build more generating plants.


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Through an organized research effort known as the Geo Validation Project, WFEC, ClimateMaster, Bosch and the Cooperative Research Network (CRN) plan to validate the reduction in electricity use achieved when an existing air conditioning system (on average 10- 15 years old) is retrofitted with a geothermal unit.


Twenty-three electric co-op members across Oklahoma and New Mexico will participate in an 18 month study that will document the load usage both before and after their homes are retrofitted with a geothermal heating and air system.


Janice Magee, Kiamichi Electric Co-op member, agreed to have her Leflore County home monitored in the study. A new heat pump is currently being installed.


It is believed the retrofit project will result in an average demand reduction of around 0.65 kilowatts (kW) per ton of air conditioning retrofitted to geothermal.


Co-op officials feel the validation process is crucial as it could result in various new services and programs that co-ops might offer their members in an effort to achieve the potential demand reductions.


“It’s really simple," stated Mark Falkenberry, manager of marketing and communications at WFEC, “We can either help our members reduce their future peaking capacity needs, which are primarily driven by air conditioning load, or we will have to build new generation plants."


Falkenberry said the study could prove that it is more practical to reduce air conditioning load during peak periods using ground source technology than building new generation facilities.


Geothermal technology is extremely energy efficient and yields the lowest utility bills of any residential heating and cooling system available today. Everybody wins when a home owner retrofits to geothermal. "The home owner sees a huge reduction in their energy costs while the co-op serving the home sees a reduction in their wholesale power costs," he said.


The positive impact on the environment that results from the collective reduction in energy use is also significant.


Currently less than two percent of Oklahomans utilize geothermal technology. Historically, the high cost of installing a geothermal system prohibited many homeowners from making the switch to heat pumps. "The challenge is to find a new marketing model that significantly lowers the upfront cost of installation so that more members can afford to go geothermal," he pointed out.


Co-ops in Oklahoma and New Mexico are exploring innovative ways of lowering the costs for this technology to their consumers. At Kiamichi Electric, this includes offering rebates of up to $650/ ton on geothermal and air source heat pumps. Add to this the 30 percent federal tax credit offered to homeowners who install geothermal systems, and you have an overall cost that is hard to refuse.


Sixteen co-ops are currently participating in the Geo Validation Project. They are assisting with installation of metering equipment in 18 homes across Oklahoma and five homes in New Mexico.


Look for more information on the Geo Validation Project in future issues of the Light Post. For more information on geothermal technology, visit the WFEC website at www.wfec.com/media-center/ video-galleries to watch videos and hear testimonials and interviews.


For more details on Kiamichi Electric rebates and other energy services, please contact Todd Minshall at 800-888-2731.


estern Farmer's Electric Cooperative (WFEC), provider of wholesale power to Kiamichi


Light Post | july-august 2013 | 5


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