By Bill Sullivan

The Frisco Athletic Center generates approximately 750,000 visits a year. With that kind of traffic, heating and cooling about 100,000 square feet of pools, workout areas, etc., can be quite a challenge – and potentially quite an expense.

That’s why, when the building was in the planning stages, the city looked into every cost-cutting measure it could implement without impacting quality. A major decision that may soon be paying dividends: Using geothermal technology for climate control.

“We wanted to figure out how to make this large building as energy-efficient as possible, not only having a green aspect in mind, but also from a long-term financial savings standpoint,” FAC Manager Steve Walsh said.

Frisco Athletic Center. Image: friscogreenliving.com

That meant sifting through a number of options, including traditional rooftop units. Going with geothermal added about $750,000 to the building’s $22 million price tag, but savings on the electricity bill is expected to allow the city to recoup that investment within the first seven or eight years of operations. (The FAC opened in November of 2007.)

“While the costs were more upfront, it reduces the monthly cost of the electricity itself,” Walsh said. “The other benefit is that it significantly reduced the on-going maintenance requirements. “

How does it all work?

A closed loop system comprising of approximately 300 wells runs about 300 feet down under the parking lot. The wells are charged with water and chemicals designed to prevent rust or algae growth.

In the warmer months, that water is cooled as it passes through underground points where the temperature is a constant 73 degrees.  When a condenser pulls in air, that air is forced across coils cooled by the chilled water, reducing the temperature of the air entering the system. Instead of feeding 95 degree air into the system, compressors only have to reduce the temperature of intake air from about 73 degrees, reducing both the load on the air conditioning system and the electric bill.

During the colder months, the same process serves to warm the air being fed into the system, again reducing demand and strain on the system and bottom line expense.

Before embarking on the project, city planners had a good local reference: The Frisco Independent School District. FISD has been using geothermal in its new buildings since 2002.

“We used our friends at the ISD as a sounding board to get ideas,” Walsh said. “They were encouraging us to go with a geothermal system based on their positive experiences.”

Gerry Burns, Facilities Manager for the City of Frisco, asked colleagues at FISD to give him an idea of what he would need to do to maintain the system. The response he got was music to any manager’s ears.

“They said, ‘Virtually nothing,’” he recalled. “It pretty much takes care of itself.”

During challenging economic times, savings both in electricity and maintenance costs at the Athletic Center have been a welcome boost to the budgetary bottom line, and a testament to the value of a little forward thinking at City Hall.

“Our leaders had the vision that we wanted to be as economically friendly as we can as well as being environmentally friendly,” Walsh said. “It took a lot of vision to think down the road and see that in the long haul this will eventually pay off.

“Ultimately, we report to the citizens of Frisco. I think we spent their money wisely.”