Bingaman staffers, Rep. Cote tour school's unique HVAC system

The Daily News
By Elva K. Osterreich, Associate News Editor
Article Launched: 06/19/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

Visiting Alamogordo Wednesday, staffers from Sen. Jeff Bingaman's office, along with Rep. Nate Cote, D-Dist. 53, were treated to a tour of the unique Alamogordo High School HVAC system.

Beginning in 2004 Alamogordo Public Schools began installing a ground-coupled heat pump system to regulate temperature at the high school. The system utilizes geothermal energy by pumping water through a series of holes bored deep into the ground under the AHS parking lot to cool, or heat, classrooms as needed.

A geothermal system makes use of the constant temperatures found below ground level to more efficiently provide heat and cooling.

"The senator is interested in the work in Alamogordo," said APS transportation and operations manager Dave Flood. "He (Bingaman) is very interested in what people in the state are doing in terms of renewable energy."

Flood is hoping Bingaman's staffers will take the information back to the senator and Bingaman himself will pay the school a visit -- possibly around September.

"It's a great model and we certainly ought to spread the word," Cote said.

In the meantime, Flood said, the schools plan to continue to get out of the swamp cooler and gas business and go toward more green energy
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options.

"Eventually we could generate our own electricity through photovoltaic technology," Flood said. "We have an application to do a grant project at Yucca Elementary with photovoltaic."

Flood's dream is that APS will eventually be self-sufficient energy-wise.

"We want to eventually arrive at schools that are zero net energy consumers," he said.

APS knows how to accomplish the zero net energy dream, Flood said. The team is in place, the technology is available and local contractors are familiar with the processes.

Now that AHS and Yucca Elementary School are using the ground-coupled heat pump technology, Heights Elementary School is next, Flood said. Work on Heights begins in August.

APS Superintendent Mike Harris said the staffers' visit should earn Alamogordo some recognition and exposure down the line.

"What we are doing is pretty unique," Harris said of the heating and cooling system at the high school and Yucca. "It's about as cost effective and green as you can get."