West Union, Iowa Has A Municipal Geothermal System. Now Others Want To Know More About It. - CleanTechnica

West Union, Iowa, has implemented a unique municipal geothermal system consisting of 132 boreholes, each 300 feet deep, connected by underground pipes supplying constant 50°F water year-round. This ground source heat pump system efficiently heats and cools municipal buildings and several downtown businesses. Unlike air source heat pumps, which must operate across varying temperatures, the geothermal system benefits from a stable water temperature, resulting in higher efficiency, lower operating costs (about half the usual heating/cooling expenses), and longer equipment lifespan—approximately 24 years for heat pumps and over 80 years for utility-grade piping. The system runs on electricity, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting environmental sustainability. The geothermal project emerged from a convergence of factors in 2012, when West Union planned a major downtown street reconstruction and sought sustainable development options. Supported by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and funded largely through state and federal stimulus grants post-2008 recession, the town integrated the geothermal system into its revitalization efforts, which also