GEO’s Dougherty Keynotes Ball State “GEOCON”

Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) President and CEO Doug Dougherty provided a review of the U.S. geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry during his keynote speech at Ball State University’s first national conference, GEOCON: A Conclave on Geothermal Systems Design, Installation and Operations, convened in Muncie IN.

Dougherty thanked Dr. Bob Koester, director of the university’s Center for Energy Research, Education and Service for convening the conference and highlighting geothermal heat pump technology. He discussed GHP market drivers and market barriers, and touched on GEO’s recent white papers on energy efficiency (Energy Efficiency, Geothermal Heat Pumps and Negawatts) and end use (Say NO to Combustion in Buildings). Ball State has retrofitted the entire campus (47 buildings) with the nation’s largest ground-source, closed-loop district geothermal heating and cooling system. The project boasts 3,603 boreholes and over 1,000 miles of closed-loop pipe.