Dayton expands geo thermal use

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The City of Dayton is moving to put one of the region’s most available resources to head up a cool business climate downtown.

Dayton City Commissioners approved a contract with Advanced Energy Group to develop plans to tap into our regions vast underground water reserves.

About one third of the buildings in the central downtown business area are already using the technology but the City of Dayton wants to raise that number.

City officials say the Miami Valley is the ideal place for geothermal energy because it sits on an aquifer with a constant temperature of 55 degrees. The system uses the water to cool buildings in the summer and warm them in the winter.

AEG will now fast-track infrastructure and financing plans for a Dayton system, while identifying properties and areas that are likely to benefit from conversion to geothermal.

City officials say not only will a geothermal system save energy and money each year but with proper maintenance the geothermal system can last anywhere from 30 to 50 years.