ATHENS, Tenn. — Land behind McMinn County Jail is being tested to determine if the county can use geothermal heating and cooling in a courts complex that will be built onto the existing justice center.

Geothermal technology uses underground pipes to moderate the temperature of circulated air and reduce heating and cooling loads.

McMinn County Mayor John Gentry said the system could save the county a lot of money on climate control.

“Underground water temperatures are about a constant 55 degrees, and using it as a heating and cooling agent gives us a more constant medium than the outside air,” Mr. Gentry said. “With projected utility (rate) increases, it would pay off for a facility of this size.”

Mid-State Construction Co. has drilled a bore hole behind the jail and has tested the groundwater’s ability to dissipate heat.

Jason Gentry, the geothermal project manager for Mid-State, attached a pump to a closed piping system in the bore hole and injected heated water. Then he measured for 20 minutes to see how quickly the water cooled.

Mr. Gentry said the Tennessee Valley Authority is helping pay for the $9,000 test. Results should come back to the county this week, he said. If it proves feasible, the contractor would drill 50 or more holes and install pipes that connect to heat exchangers inside the courts building.

Mr. Gentry said a 50 percent savings on annual utility bills is not uncommon using geothermal technology.

County Finance Director Jason Luallen said the jail spent about $170,000 last year on utilities. He said he didn’t have cost estimates for the planned addition, which is estimated to cost $12 million to $14 million to build.

It will include secure entrances, three courtrooms, a circuit court clerk’s office and various conference and jury rooms.

The jail will get a new men’s section and an expanded women’s area along with kitchen and medical spaces and segregation areas for inmates with communicable diseases.

The new beds will increase jail capacity from the current 196 to 331. A future expansion area will be roughed in but not used.

The County Commission has voted to get architectural plans for the project and make a final decision later on construction.

The county also decided to buy land on the west side of the site for a parking area. Mr. Gentry said initial plans called for a retaining wall there at a cost of $250,000. Buying land will let the county grade a hill to a normal slope at less cost, he said.

Comments