Large-Scale Thermal
Tap Into the Potential Right Under Your Feet
Whether you have fast-approaching climate targets or are looking to meet future consumer demands, a ground source (or geothermal) heat pump system can help you reach your goals. The thermal needs within buildings, such as heating and cooling of occupied spaces and production of domestic hot water, are challenges to decarbonize. Energy-efficient heat pump technology, powered by the grid or onsite renewables, provides a viable decarbonization pathway for large buildings or multi-building properties like college campuses and medical facilities.
Funding opportunities are available to help decarbonize new or existing buildings with geothermal heat pumps, large-scale thermal systems, and heat recovery solutions.
Here’s an overview of how these technologies work, how to get started, and the funding and support that’s available to building owners in New York State.
How Does Large-Scale Thermal Work?
Just a few feet beneath the earth’s surface the underground temperature is a steady 54°F year-round. Geothermal systems, which use ground source heat pumps, uses this steady temperature to heat buildings in the winter and cool them in the summer. When the air outside is cold, GSHPs move the heat from the earth into the buildings they serve, and when it’s hot outside, they move heat from those same buildings into the earth. Besides geothermal energy, GSHPs can utilize bodies of water and wastewater facilities that provide a consistent temperature.
Heat pumps that capture and reuse the heat from the ground and otherwise wasted heat have been installed throughout homes, large buildings, and campuses in New York State. Facilities like college campuses, medical facilities, and other buildings with diverse thermal needs are good applications for heat pumps due to consistently high occupancy, fluctuating usage schedules, and varying heating and cooling requirements within individual zones, such as offices and classrooms, that are difficult to meet efficiently with conventional systems.
Get Started
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Large-Scale Thermal Program
Read More Large-Scale Thermal ProgramExplore funding for the design and implementation of large-scale thermal projects for one or multiple buildings.
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Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) Program
Read More Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) ProgramComplete an energy study with cost-share support from NYSERDA to evaluate your building’s heating and cooling needs.
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Webinars
Read More Webinars (opens in new window)View recordings from the 17-part webinar series on community heat pump systems, developed in partnership with ASHRAE.
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Reports and Resources
Read More Reports and ResourcesAccess studies about the potential of community heat pumps and step-by-step resources for moving a project forward.
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Large-Scale Thermal Projects
Read More Large-Scale Thermal ProjectsExplore 50+ community heat pump system projects, including feasibility and design studies for a range of building types across New York State.
You Might Also Be Interested In
- Empire Building Challenge: Access resources and technical assistance to help commercial and multifamily real estate owners implement low-carbon retrofits.
- Heat Recovery Program: Become a qualified solution provider or funding to advance heat recovery opportunity assessments, project design, demonstration projects, or business development services.
- Multifamily Building Programs: Explore funding opportunities for multifamily building owners to make energy-efficient upgrades and manage their energy use.
- On-site Energy Manager Program: Get cost-share support to hire a dedicated on-site energy manager for your industrial, commercial, institutional, or multifamily facility.
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