The Mount Holyoke Campus seen from above, with Lower Lake in the foreground and rolling hills in the background

Geothermal Project

Our commitment to carbon neutrality

Taking action on climate change is critical to our success as a College and as responsible members of a global community. Initiating the Geothermal project signifies our commitment to our campus carbon neutrality promise. We are pursuing this goal by our bicentennial through a strategy of investing in energy efficiency, promoting energy conservation, retrofitting historic buildings and transitioning to efficient heating and cooling technologies which demand less energy to operate. The biggest driver to this success is the implementation of the geothermal project to transition our campus heating and cooling.

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Student and faculty engagement opportunities

Raquel Aquirre ’22 (on the left) and Monica Geraldes ’22 (on the right) working with cuttings from the test bore hole for the geothermal project.

The geothermal project provides a living lab opportunity for students to apply their scholarship on campus. One such example is when Mount Holyoke professor Al Werner Professor of Geology, and Monica Geraldes Vega ’22, and Raquel Aguirre ’22, sought to learn more about the rocks under campus and their conductivity to inform geothermal feasibility for the campus. Their work interpreted the geological record at depth (800 feet below the surface). To study the rocks, they collected cuttings every five feet as the drilling progressed. They learned about how much heat was available and accessible in the rocks by running a conductivity test. The engineers used this data to inform how many wells and how far apart from one another they would need to be for a successful system. Their research also revealed that the rocks below the campus are not aquifers and have very low permeability, which means that putting in a geothermal system would not be compromising a potential water supply.

Professor Al Werner with Monica Geraldes Vega ’22 at the Stoling Ceremony

The conductivity test (to find out how much heat could be extracted from the underlying rocks) confirmed that the rocks below campus are very good for geothermal. The rock formations start at just eight feet below the surface, which is advantageous for the system as it provides more geothermal heat conductivity due to less sediment. Their studies also revealed an interesting environmental history of the land over time, which led to a forthcoming publication.

We will be posting updates on this site as they become available to let students and faculty know about opportunities to engage in this campus as living lab experience.

Phase I gallery

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Geothermal project phase one from a drone camera above campus

Laying down pipes during phase one of the geothermal project.

Digging trenches for the geothermal project

Repaving the walkways during phase one of the geothermal project

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

In 2021, external consultants worked with the College to develop a master plan for reaching carbon neutrality in 2037, Mount Holyoke’s bicentennial. A directive was endorsed by the Trustees in 2018. The plan criteria was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from utility consumption on campus (from heating and cooling campus buildings), to minimize the use of carbon offset purchasing as a way to reach carbon neutrality, to implement cost effective technologies that will meet future innovations, and to replace aging and outdated infrastructure with a more efficient, scalable, and modern system. The recommended option that provided the most cost-effective and carbon reducing solution was a ground source heat pump system with a geo-exchange array, or what we are simply calling geothermal. This will reduce the campus’ greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030, and will modernize our 100 year old infrastructure to ensure compatibility with future technological advances.

Geothermal heat exchange

Geothermal heat exchange systems leverage the consistent and stable 50°–60°F temperatures underground to support the heating of buildings. Using water as a conduit, the system will reject heat from the buildings in the summer and store that heat in the ground for when we want to use it in the winter. The heat is moved around by a series of heat pumps at the building level and a system of deep bore holes and exchange loops under the ground. Heat pump technology that is available now can efficiently extract heat from even very cold air adding even more benefit to the system. Their performance efficiency is much stronger than steam, and can provide multiple units of energy for every unit of electricity used. This efficiency translates to lower energy consumption, reduced reliance on fossil fuels, and ultimately lower utility bills.

Differentiated from other renewable energy technologies like solar and wind, which rely on certain conditions in order to produce energy, geothermal exchange systems can function consistently due to the stability of temperatures below the Earth’s surface.

Carbon-free electricity

The geothermal system will operate using mostly electricity. The campus gets its electricity from the South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD). Nearly 90% of SHELD’s electricity comes from carbon-free sources, meaning that our carbon footprint from purchased electricity is next to zero.

Social media graphic for information represented below about the geothermal project.

It's time...

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact on the planet and have set the goal of carbon neutrality by 2037, Mount Holyoke College's 200th anniversary.

Miles

26 miles of geothermal piping to be installed under the Mount Holyoke Campus. The equivalent of two round trips to the Summit House.

230

Bores

230 geothermal bores will heat and cool 43 buildings or 1.6 million square feet.

600

Feet

Each vertical bore is 600 feet deep, equal to the height of 5 clock towers.

100%

Carbon neutrality

Mount Holyoke College is committed to 100% carbon neutrality. The next seven years will get us 80% there. The seven years after that will do the rest.

500%

Energy efficiencies

Ground energy resources enable energy efficiencies of 400-500%.

55°

Earth's constant temperature

Geothermal systems draw and reject heat from the earth's constant temperature (55° in Western Massachusetts), expelling heat in summer and gaining relative warmth in winter via geothermal bores.

Happening at Mount Holyoke

News about Geothermal

A glimpse of the College’s nineteenth-century centerpiece

Construction for Mount Holyoke’s new geothermal energy project led to discoveries from the College’s beginnings.

More News

Project update – April 22, 2024

General Update

All roadways have been reopened. The walkway between Porter and Blanchard has been reopened.

View current construction maps

Underground Piping Work

Crews will repave the sidewalk to the west of Safford. Once the area is restored, the temporary fencing will be removed.

Skinner Green

Excavation and underground piping work will continue within the site fence.

A small generator will run overnight to prevent flooding within the site. Excavation, saw cutting, and piping work will continue. Noticeable construction noise is expected from these activities.

Blanchard Community Center

Testing of Blanchard’s heating system will occur on Tuesday, April 23, between 7 am and 4 pm. During this time there will be a number of construction workers and Facilities staff throughout the building, observing the building system operation.

Crews will continue night work installing piping throughout the building. The evening work will not impact operations during the day.

Science Center

Crews will continue installation of new boilers within the basement mechanical room. Electrical/control wiring and insulation will continue. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

General Update

Access to Porter parking lot will be restricted during work hours on Monday, April 15. Porter parking lot will reopen to vehicle traffic at all hours starting Tuesday, April 16. All major pedestrian pathways will remain open or detoured. Detoured pathways will be marked with appropriate signage.

View current construction maps

Underground Piping Work

Underground piping work between Blanchard and Porter and to the west of Safford has been completed. Sidewalks will be restored, and temporary fencing will be removed.

Skinner Green

Excavation and underground piping work will continue within the site fence.

A small generator will run overnight to prevent flooding within the site. Excavation, saw cutting, and piping work will continue. Noticeable construction noise is expected from these activities.

Blanchard Community Center

Crews will continue nightwork installing piping throughout the building. The evening work will not impact operations during the day.

Science Center

Crews will continue installation of new boilers within the basement mechanical room. Electrical/control wiring and insulation will continue. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

General Update

Blanchard Circle will reopen to through traffic near Safford Hall. Access to Porter parking lot will be restricted during work hours. Porter parking lot will reopen to vehicle traffic after 5PM. All major pedestrian pathways will remain open or detoured. Detoured pathways will be marked with appropriate signage.

Underground Piping Work

Work will continue on underground piping between Blanchard and Porter and to the west of Safford.

Excavation, saw cutting, and piping work will continue. Noticeable construction noise is expected from these activities.

Skinner Green

Work continues within the site fence.

Excavation and underground piping work will continue.

Blanchard Community Center

Installation of piping will continue in the basement mechanical room. This work will cause no impact to building occupants. Crews will continue nightwork in wet services and select private spaces. Dumpsters have been relocated to the rear of Blanchard to limit community impact during evening work. The evening work will not impact operations during the day.

Science Center

Crews will continue installation of new boilers within the basement mechanical room. Electrical and control wiring will continue and insulation work will begin. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

General Update

Blanchard Circle will be closed to through traffic near Safford Hall during work hours. Access to Porter parking lot will be restricted during work hours. Both Safford and Porter work locations will reopen to vehicle traffic after 5PM. All major pedestrian pathways will remain open or detoured. Detoured pathways will be marked with appropriate signage.

Underground Piping Work

Work will continue on underground piping between Blanchard and Porter and to the east and west of Safford.

Excavation, saw cutting, and piping work will continue. Noticeable construction noise is expected from these activities.

Skinner Green

Work continues within the site fence.

Excavation and underground piping work will continue.

Blanchard Community Center

Installation of piping will continue in the basement mechanical room and wet services. This work will cause no impact to building occupants. Crews will begin nightwork in wet services and back of house Dining. The evening work will not impact operations during the day.

Science Center

Crews will continue installation of new boilers within the basement mechanical room.Electrical and control wiring will begin. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

View current construction maps

*Updated to reflect Blanchard Circle closure due to unforeseen conditions.

General Update

Blanchard Circle will be closed to through traffic near Safford Hall from Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29. Access to Porter parking lot will be restricted during work hours. All major pedestrian pathways will remain open or detoured. Detoured pathways will be marked with appropriate signage.

Underground Piping Work

Work will continue on underground piping between Blanchard and Porter and to the east and west of Safford.

Excavation, saw cutting, and piping work will continue. Noticeable construction noise is expected from these activities.

Skinner Green

Work continues within the site fence.

Excavation and underground piping work will continue.

Blanchard Community Center

Installation of piping will continue in the basement mechanical room and wet services. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

Science Center

Crews will continue installation of new boilers within the basement mechanical room. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

General update

Blanchard Circle will be closed to through traffic near Safford Hall. All major pedestrian pathways will remain open or detoured. Detoured pathways will be marked with appropriate signage.

Underground piping work

Work will begin on underground piping between Blanchard and Porter and to the east and west of Safford.

Excavation, saw cutting, and piping work will begin. Noticeable construction noise is expected from these activities.

Skinner Green

Work continues within the site fence. Pedestrian gates will be installed for site access.

Excavation and underground piping work will begin.

Blanchard Community Center

Installation of piping will continue in the basement mechanical room. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

There is a crane pick scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, from 7:30 am to 3 pm. The crane will be positioned at the rear loading dock area behind Blanchard. This activity is weather dependent with a backup date scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

Science Center

Crews will continue installation of new boilers within the basement mechanical room. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

General update

All pedestrian pathways and vehicular roadways are open.

Skinner Green

Crews have mobilized and construction fencing has been installed around the perimeter of the work area.

A piping delivery is scheduled for Monday, March 11th.

Topsoil will be removed from within the site fence.

Temporary power will be installed to the trailers.

Blanchard Community Center

Installation of piping and demolition of existing equipment will take place in the basement mechanical room. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

Science Center

Crews will continue demolition of old boilers within the basement mechanical room. This work will cause no impact to building occupants.

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