Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

Purpose

To support the formation of U.S. community coalitions that will develop, design, and install community geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for this program is unrestricted, though applicants are anticipated to be U.S. community coalitions.

Decarbonization Considerations

Community-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems can help deploy clean technologies and reduce reliance on gas heating in a more cost-effective way. In areas where such systems are feasible, geothermal systems are an incredibly efficient means of regulating building temperatures while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Equity Considerations

Geothermal systems can effectively regulate building temperatures and remove gas from indoor use, thereby creating safer living/working conditions. This program tasks community stakeholders with deploying these technologies, ensuring a more equitable distribution of program benefits.

Helpful Tips

Learn more about feasibility and considerations here: https://www.nrel.gov/climate-neutral/assets/pdfs/ghp_screening_21oct03.pdf Learn more on system cost comparisons here: https://aeclinic.org/publicationpages/2021/01/13/inflection-point-when-heating-with-gas-costs-more

Other Notes

Installed technologies should supply at least 25% of the overall heating (and cooling) demand in communities where current fuel use to heat (and cool) homes and/or businesses increases greenhouse gas emissions.