Swipe right to learn the basics about Networked Geothermal and its impacts.

Thermal Energy Networks are utility-scale infrastructure projects that connect multiple buildings into a shared system that can provide both heating and cooling.

These networks of water-filled pipes use shallow geothermal wells, or boreholes, to bring the constant temperature of the earth under our feet (about 55 degrees F) to ground-source heat pumps in our homes. Even more efficient than air source heat pumps, these appliances convert that temperature into heating or cooling as needed.

Thermal energy networks can also capture excess heating or cooling from grocery stores, office buildings, ice rinks, or even wastewater and share that temperature with other buildings or store it underground. Energy is never wasted, but exchanged and balanced between buildings.

Underground loops can serve an entire street, development, or town center. They are a safe, proven technology that has been successfully implemented in many colder climates.

• They yield significant emissions reductions and lower customer costs.

• Ground source heat pumps used in these systems require a fraction of the electricity that air source heat pumps use, so they are more affordable than electric heating and cooling and much cleaner and less expensive than oil, propane, or gas heat.

• Thermal Energy Networks reduce demands on the electric grid, lowering peaks and helping to keep electricity costs down.

• Building thermal energy networks provides comparable jobs for fossil fuel workers, especially in the gas sector.

• Bring thermal energy networks to more communities by incentivizing utilities, co-ops, nonprofits, and businesses to own and operate these systems.

• Ensure that low and moderate-income Vermonters can access this clean, renewable, efficient energy.