Plankinton, S.D., rebuilds school with eye on efficiency, safety
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At 65,000 square feet, the new Plankinton Public School in South Dakota is nearly 20,000 feet larger than the old facility and is air-conditioned in the summer. Yet, in the first year of operation, its geothermal heating and cooling system cost the school district $24,000 less than the propane heater in the old school. (Photo courtesy of Plankinton Development Company)
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Among the virtues of geothermal heating and cooling, low electric bills, year-round comfort and minimal maintenance get a lot of attention, but to Plankinton, S.D., Public School, the safety of its geothermal system is as important as its efficiency.
The combined elementary and high school opened in early 2003, replacing a propane-heated, 1940s-era building that had been located a few blocks from the new facility's site. On Nov. 17, 2000, a propane explosion and fire destroyed that facility, killing the head custodian and superintendent, and severely injuring a volunteer firefighter. "They first noticed the propane smell around 4 p.m.," recalled Gary Kristensen, Plankinton school board vice president and Central Electric Cooperative member services advisor. "There were only a few students onsite at that hour for wrestling practice, and the administrators evacuated the building."
The building was empty except for school officials and firefighters investigating the leak when the blast occurred later that evening.
The explosion damaged the structure so heavily it had to be demolished. The town pulled together to house the students, with churches and even the fire station hosting classes. Eventually, the state supplied modular housing units to serve as classrooms while the new school was built.
Geothermal's high installation costs meet resistance
Through insurance, charitable contributions, a bond issue and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities grant, the school board raised money to finance a larger, modern facility. The new school would boast state-of-the-art classrooms, a wellness center, computer-equipped community library and a teleconferencing center for distance learning. It would also be equipped with an efficient heating and cooling system, the school board decided. The question was, what kind of system? "We looked at all the options," said Kristensen, "updated propane, electric and geothermal."
Geothermal proponents initially met with some resistance from the school board and the public because of high initial costs. The wells alone were a big expense, Kristensen recalled. The system would require 300 wells, each 225 feet deep, to heat and cool the expanded facility.
Taxpayers benefit from energy-efficient public spaces
Visits to three South Dakota schools—one in Elk Point and two in Hamlin—helped make the case. "Those systems let us compare the higher installation costs with long-term payback and overall efficiency," explained the member services advisor. "Having some figures, even for other facilities, helped to bring people around."
One of the reasons, Kristensen noted, is that public buildings represent a long-term investment. "Residential customers may not be sure they are going to stay in a house long enough to see the payback of an initially expensive system," he said. "But that school is going to be in use for a long time, and taxpayers will always be paying for its operating costs. Suddenly, that investment starts to look like a pretty good deal."
Central Electric, in cooperation with its power wholesaler East River Electric Cooperative, sweetened the deal more with a rebate of $13,500, based on residential incentive programs. The utility also gave the school a special rate of 3.3 cents per kWh on heating and cooling costs. "Central supports geothermal technology 100 percent," Kristensen asserted. "We have an HVAC department and we distribute geothermal units. When we show customers a comparison of heating and cooling systems, 90 percent of them go with geothermal. We feel that it's the top of the line in heating and cooling."
Geothermal system yields savings even in expanded facility
The school board agreed that a safe, efficient geothermal system was the way to go, and statistics from the new Plankinton Public School's first year of operation justified their faith. The 65,000 sq. ft. building is nearly 20,000 sq. ft. larger than the old school, and unlike its predecessor, is air-conditioned. Yet, the combination of geothermal technology, efficient windows and insulation and special electrical rates saved the school $24,000 in energy costs the first year of its operation.
The price of natural gas, just beginning its steep ascent when the new school was under construction, bolstered the economics of the school board's choice. In the most efficient, up-to-date propane system, the cost of fuel remains a volatile component. The solid-state, all-electric geothermal system protects owners not only from potential gas leaks, but also from market fluctuations.
"We could have cut corners to save money, but the facts and figures really support that long-term investment was the only way to go," Kristensen summed up. "This building is going to be here a long time, and we wanted the best return on our dollar."
Lower operating costs, more efficient energy use and, best of all, a clean, safe learning environment for Plankinton students is a pretty good return on investment. The old school may be gone, but alumni will remember it as the place where they learned to recognize opportunity and to respond to adversity by building something better.
