Posted on 02/27/2017 6:19:29 PM PST by marshmallow
Archdiocese of New York unveils geothermal plant as final stage of 4-year renovation
Between Election Day and Inauguration Day, much attention in New York City had been given to the soaring heights of Trump Tower, whose chief resident was welcoming high-profile visitors to his opulent suite, vetting them for administration posts.
Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, officials at St. Patrick’s Cathedral were quietly and humbly preparing for a small miracle deep beneath the ground.
In mid-February, the Archdiocese of New York announced that the historic cathedral, which has undergone a $177 million renovation over the past four years, activated a geothermal plant to heat it in winter and cool it in summer.
The minor miracle is the way they can now transform God’s gift of water into a comfortable atmosphere for the tens of thousands of visitors who pass through the cathedral doors each year, as well as those who live and work in the iconic church’s adjoining buildings. That would include Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s official residence and a separate house for parish priests.
In order to heat or cool the structures, engineers had to drill 10 holes into Manhattan’s bedrock on the outside periphery of St. Pat’s, between 600-2200 feet, to tap into ground water that, no matter how frigid or how broiling it is on New York’s streets, maintains a fairly constant temperature, between 52-63 degrees.
“The basic principle is that you’re extracting water from the earth, and in the wintertime you’re pulling heat out of that to create heating for the building, and in the summer you’re pulling cooling out of that water and injecting the hotter water back down into the earth,” architect Jeff Murphy explained. “So it’s giving you a higher basis of energy, whether it’s cooling in the summer or heating in the winter.”
(Excerpt) Read more at aleteia.org ...
Tapping into the fires of Hell to heat Saint Patrick’s Cathedral! Brilliant!
Fracking For Friars.
Looking for Stahlman’s Gas probably.
It’s a good technology when you can afford the initial outlay.
Does that make it holy water?
Just in time to power the lighted “rainbow LGBTXYZMMXPLTTTIT” flag for St. Patrick’s Day!
[It’s a good technology when you can afford the initial outlay.]
Yes, though I’m not mad about dumping “used” water back into an aquifer.
Injecting hot water??
Sounds like fracking.
Did they do enough environment surveys? Shouldn’t there be
Protests??? Encampments???
I did it. It really works well!
Bought a 6000 sq. ft. fixer-upper. Had two 1961 vintage oil burners for heat with two 375 gallon oil tanks. Previous owner filled the tanks 4 times per fall, winter, spring season.
We switched to two geo units with a total of 10 tons. Drilled 10 wells, each 200 feet deep.
Total system cost $63,000 before the 30% tax CREDIT. Now, our highest electric bill has been $275 in the coldest of winter. And that is for heat, lighting, TV’s, 3 fridges, etc. - all electricity.
We figure a payoff in a little more than 4 years.
Is it possible energy costs never being significantly tamed is similar to real estate always increasing in value, prior to 2008?
It's an awesome technology. Geothermal. You nailed the "initial outlay".
If I build another house, geothermal is the way I’m going. Especially if I move to the prairies. Geothermal heat, solar and wind for electricity. Straw bale and concrete construction, at least 70% earth sheltered. OOOH YEAH!
Dangerous, too. Manhattan is an island, not immune to earthquakes.
Hope it doesn’t burp at the wrong time.
It’s a closed loop system. It’s basically a heat pump. Refrigerant is compressed and circulated through pipes in the wells. Heat is transfered from the ground water to the refrigerant. Reverse the circulation for cooling.
I haven’t put the heat on this year. Don’t ever plan on moving back where it’s needed. ;)
It would be kind of funny if they struck oil.
Well, keeping my full pension (what little it is) is dependent upon my remaining in Canada, so that really cuts down my options, y’know. I can leave, but my payout drops by 1/3, and it’s small enough as it is...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.