Geothermal Wells Get 2 Thumbs Up at a Maine Campus

The Education Center at the U. of Maine at Farmington

Farmington, Me. — Theodora J. Kalikow, president of the University of Maine at Farmington, says there was no down side to insisting on a green building when the university needed a new home for its teacher-education programs. “This building uses something like 25 percent of the energy of a comparable building” constructed the traditional way, Ms. Kalikow says of the Education Center that opened here in March. And she says putting up a sustaintable building — the university hopes to earn a LEED silver rating for it — was no more expensive than building a nonsustainable structure.

The Education Center, designed by the Portland firm PDT Architects, relies on 40 geothermal wells, each 400 feet deep, to warm and cool air for heating and air-conditioning. “That’s it for heating and cooling,” says Ms. Kalikow. “It saves so much money it’s totally phenomenal.”

The 44,000-square-foot building cost the university $8.8-million, of which $4.8-million was raised in a bond issue. The balance was given by donors. It houses 10 classrooms, a curriculum-materials center, a computer lab, offices for faculty members, conference rooms, and a lounge that opens onto a terrace.

In addition to the geothermal wells, the building’s sustainable features include carpet made from recycled fiber, operable windows, and lights that shut themselves off when rooms are not in use. Furniture was made with recycled content — including recycled seat belts — and faculty members’ offices have slanted ceilings to accommodate extra-tall windows that bring in as much daylight as possible. The building is also heavily insulated against the Maine winters — “mega-wrapped,” Ms. Kalikow calls it. Original plans included a green roof, but it and a cafe had to be cut to keep costs down.

The building is the second sustainable structure on the campus, after a residence hall constructed a few years ago. The geothermal system has been such a success that new wells were dug to supply the heating system for the university’s indoor pool. Now, says Ms. Kalikow, “I have students and faculty members beating me up, wanting to be more green.” —Lawrence Biemiller

Wells
Piping for the geothermal wells snakes through a utility room in the building’s basement.