Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Ulbrich Heights Community Geothermal Project

 

About

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Grant Program funded 11 projects across the country to explore the potential of community-scale networked geothermal systems.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) won an award, in partnership with the University of Connecticut, Wallingford Housing Authority, Wallingford Electric Division, and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), to conduct community engagement, design a networked geothermal system for part or all of the housing authority campus, and complete a geothermal workforce needs assessment.

The primary objective of the proposed project was to design a technically and economically feasible low-temperature, shallow geothermal heating and cooling system that woulud serve at least 50% of the heating and cooling load of a 132-unit, affordable housing complex in Wallingford, CT — Ulbrich Heights. The Ulbrich Heights community had been actively seeking to undertake capital and energy improvements that address American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and energy efficiency for an affordable-housing development providing homes to 21 disabled, 19 elderly, and 100 female-headed households. 

Project team members represent:
  • CT DEEP
  • University of Connecticut
  • Wallingford Housing Authority
  • Wallingford Electric Department
  • Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Project Advisory Committee members represent:
  • CT Housing Financing Authority
  • CT Department of Housing
  • CT Office of Climate Planning
  • CT Office of Environmental Justice
  • CT Office of Workforce Strategy
  • CT Department of Public Health
  • Eversource Energy
  • Emergent Urban Concepts
  • Meriden Housing Authority
  • Wallingford Residents
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
What is Geothermal? Why is it important? How does it work?

Please see the Geothermal Energy page.

Project Outcomes

In October 2024, the project team decided not to pursue DOE funding to implement geothermal at Ulbrich Heights. Although the primary design and several alternative designs would have reduced tenants’ monthly energy costs significantly, capital costs for the project were higher than anticipated and a viable ownership model could not be developed in time for the DOE competition for implementation funding.

The case study, the workforce-development analysis and recommendations, and the technical, economic, and environmental analysis developed for this project provide important touchstones for future community geothermal projects in Connecticut and elsewhere. The project partners remain committed to pursuing viable community geothermal initiatives and believe the prospects for community geothermal projects in Connecticut are strong. DEEP looks forward to engaging with DOE, UConn, NEEP, and other regional partners, including partners in the newly launched New England Heat Pump Accelerator Coalition, to identify suitable project sites, viable ownership models, and applicable funding streams.

Primary Project Documents
Other Project Documents

Contact

Content last updated November 2024