Back in 2014, the City installed its first geothermal system at the Arlington Hills Community Center.
To provide cooling at the 41,000 square foot facility, a geothermal heat pump loop serves three air handling units and three rooftop units with direct expansion (DX) cooling. A geothermal loop provides heat to 21 heat pumps, variable air volume systems (VAVs) are equipped with electric reheat, and an electric boiler provides supplemental heat to the loop.
The City of Saint Paul also incorporated geothermal energy systems into the designs for the new North End Community Center, Wakan Tipi Center, and Hamline Midway Library.
During 2024-2026, the City will be constructing a hydro-geothermal system for the Primates and Polar Bear Buildings at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory to remove those buildings from a centralized gas-powered steam boiler system.
Drill site for geothermal wells at Como Zoo.