Geothermal in Reverse
- Nov 27, 2007 1:37 AM EST
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Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is quite a festive place. The 300,000 square foot complex is home to a convention center, theater, art exhibition and even a farmers' market.
This smorgasbord of activity is directly responsible for huge power strains, which is why Alderney Landing's most unique facet is the way in which is uses cold harbor water to power its 5 buildings. As Ecotality points out, this energy supply scheme is the reverse of using "earth's heat for geothermal power." Instead, the local Performance Energy Systems company set out to drill 120 six hundred-foot bore holes, intended to stockpile seawater from the cold Halifax harbor. The water will then be used to cool the facility renewably during the warm summer season.
The projected $250,000 reduction in annual cooling costs is enough to pay for the $3 million Alderney Landing project in just 12 years. Now imagine doing that with your mortgage!