Posts Tagged ‘Geothermal’

The drywall brings out the geometry and dignity of the mortise and tenon timberframe.

Three phases of the project are in transition.   On the outside we are finishing up the siding (our project was featured in NuCedar’s recent newsletter) and starting the planting. Inside we are installing and taping the drywall.  And in the basement we are running electrical lines and finishing the piping for the geothermal system.   All of the lighting will be monitored by computers linked to touchpad controls.

The Charlestown Package Store is a fluid blend of old and new.   Timberframe, stone walls, native landscaping and thermally broken EPS panels, computer controlled LED lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, low VOC finishes.   Designed and built by local architects and contractors, the project demonstrates design and construction that is sustainable and sensible.  We are proud to be part of the team.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling & Lighting Control Panel

Landscaping the front of the store.

Century Electric's Tim Robar explains the switching to owner Jon Maldon.

Yesterday we poured the cement slab in the retail area of the store.   After installing the drywall we will strap the floor with 2×4 sleepers, cover the sleepers with 11/8″ Warmboard, install radiant heat, and then a wood floor. But first, before we poured the slab, we had to put in all the pipes and wires!   Planning, coordination, drilling holes in the foundation……

Once the floor is poured, all the pipes and wires will be encased in concrete and correcting mistakes or making changes will be difficult.  First thing yesterday morning the concrete arrived and now we have a floor.   Take a look.

The Charlestown Package Store will be heated and cooled by a geothermal system drawing water from three 450 foot deep wells.   Today we began drilling the first of the wells.

The first phase, until we hit bedrock at about 125 feet, involves digging the hole and keeping the hole open with drilling mud.   Once we hit bedrock we will set an 8 inch pipe into the hole and pump the mud out. (Yes, this is similar mud to what is being used to try to stop the runaway oil well in the Gulf of Mexico).   After we pump the mud out, we will attach a 6 inch bit and drill down through the bedrock to 450 feet.

The constant temperature of the water we pull from the wells will allow us to heat and cool the building efficiently and without using any gas or oil.   We will have more on the design and workings of the geothermal system in a future post.