GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. ( KREX ) – Colorado Mesa University’s geothermal heating system hasn’t only gotten the attention of the governor but the nation as well.
On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis celebrated CMU for being recognized as one of only 19 case studies across the U.S. by the Department of Energy. The university was praised for its geothermal system.
“Congratulations to Colorado Mesa University for being featured as a U.S. Department of Energy case study for geothermal heating,” Polis said in a press release. “CMU has one of North America’s largest geothermal heat pump systems and connects 16 buildings, providing 90% of the energy required to operate the campus. Plans are underway to connect the remaining campus buildings, comprising 800,000 square feet, to the central loop to achieve a 100% geothermal campus. CMU’s work is a great example of Colorado’s leadership in providing clean, low-cost energy resources.”
Polis also called CMU’s geothermal system a “gold standard.”
The system currently regulates 1.2 million square feet of building, saving the university $15.9 million in heating and costing costs since 2008. It has reduced CMU’s carbon footprint by roughly 18,000 metric tons of CO2 every year.