District Energy Systems Discussion Panel
South East Chapter
January 21, 2022 @ 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
District Energy Systems have been in use for about 150 years. During the first 100 years, those systems were mainly for heating via steam or hot water. During the 1930s and 1940s, a form of cooling was added to some, eventually many district systems. Alternatives to central plants (with boilers and chillers) began to proliferate after 2000. Those systems have grown in number rapidly since then.
Our chapter is most fortunate to have several presenters that have made very significant contributions to the recent subset of highly efficient district energy systems. These multi-building, ambient thermal networks contribute greatly to decarbonization since they reduce electrical requirements to support meeting that goal.
The range of technologies that are and can be a part of these high efficiency systems is huge; and those technologies are both highly efficient and renewable. As far-reaching as the range of technologies are, there are the considerable challenges to establishing such systems; especially if we are to strive for the possible and not just the do-able.
The Chapter invites our presenters to speak to their experiences and discuss what the industry and institutions need to focus on to maximize the contributions from the industry, both environmentally and economically. The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.
Jay Egg is founder of EggGeothermal, a mechanical services company focused on geothermal HVAC consulting and contracting technologies. The company works internationally and is a sought-after and regularly retained for their expertise in the field of mechanical design, hydronic, and ground coupled air conditioning and heating. Jay and his team have written numerous articles, abstracts and papers on the topic. Author of two McGraw-Hill Professional books; Geothermal HVAC, Green Heating and Cooling and Modern Geothermal HVAC Engineering and Control Applications, to date the most comprehensive text on the subject of geothermal heating and air conditioning technologies. Columnist for numerous trade magazines, including Plumbing Engineer and Plumbing and Heating Contractor News.
Gary Phetteplace founded GWA Research in 2007 to provide engineering services in: district heating and cooling, geothermal heat pumps, heat transfer in soil, and cold regions heat transfer. He has been very active in ASHRAE; particularly on TC6.2 District Energy and this past year served NY GEO and ASHRAE in organizing webinars on related topics in 2021. Gary has engineering degrees from Northeastern University and Dartmouth; and earned his PhD from Stanford (1994). He provides expert testimony and many technical services. Gary lives in Lima, New Hampshire.
Jim Lowe is the Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning and Management. Jim serves as the principal administrative officer responsible for the development and implementation of the university’s Campus Master Plan, space management, oversight for facilities planning, engineering and construction projects, the operation and maintenance of the University’s facilities, infrastructure, grounds, and the transportation department. Jim has been responsible for directing and leading the design and construction of Ball State’s Geothermal Conversion project, and chairs the Ball State President’s Sustainability Working Group charged with evaluating campus sustainable initiatives. Jim also serves on the appointed Muncie Community School Board. Jim graduated from Kettering University (formally General Motors Institute), Flint, Michigan in 1978 with a BS Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer. Jim came to Ball State University in 1987 after working for fourteen years at General Motors.Event Cost: Varies
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