On Campus: Geothermal energy coming to University of Wisconsin-Madison

January 10th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under

Drilling began last week for a geothermal heating and cooling system for the future Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery — the first research facility at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to use the economical energy source.

The system, which uses the relatively constant temperature of the earth to regulate building temperature, will provide an annual 10 percent savings on energy use.

Workers bored 75 holes approximately 300 feet below the site, at the intersection of University Avenue and Campus Drive. The cost of the underground geothermal system, expected to function for at least 50 years, is $1.25 million.

The building, set to open in 2010, consists of twin institutes: the publicly funded Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and the private Morgridge Institute for Research. It will house researchers doing interdisciplinary research designed to improve human health.

Recession brainstorming session

UW-Madison students, faculty and staff will have at least one more opportunity — on Jan. 22 — to brainstorm ideas about how the university can successfully operate in a recession.

Three previous sessions, held last month, resulted in dozens of ideas aimed a making the university more efficient and effective. This fourth session was scheduled so that students who may have missed earlier sessions because of conflicts with final exams will be able to attend.

The session will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Grainger Hall. To read about the ideas generated during the December sessions and to contribute comments, visit

www.chancellor.wisc.edu/forum.

Source: madison.com

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