Energy Related Projects
Harford Community College is committed to conserving energy and
exploring alternative, renewable energy sources. Use the links below to
learn more about new and ongoing HCC energy projects.
Geothermal Wells
 What are geothermal wells?
Geothermal wells help reduce energy consumption by 30% to 50% by
using the earth as a heat sink for summer cooling and winter heating. A
closed loop system takes advantage of a constant underground temperature
of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do they work?
Each looped pipe is buried to a depth of about 250 to 300 feet and
contains water and alcohol to prevent freezing. In winter, the fluid in
the pipes extracts heat from the earth and carries it through the system
and into the building. In summer, heat is pulled from the building,
carried through the system and deposited in the cool earth.
Where are geothermal wells on
campus?
Harford Community College's geothermal wells are located at the
Observatory, Plant Services Building and the Hays Heigh House.
Solar Hot Water Heating
Five campus locations (Student Center, Joppa Hall, Havre
de Grace Hall, Chesapeake Center and Aberdeen Hall) use solar power to heat hot water. The solar panels on Havre de Grace Hall, the Chesapeake Center and
Student Center were funded in part by the Maryland Energy
Administration's Solar Grant Program.
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Student Center
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Aberdeen
Hall
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Havre de Grace Hall
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Photovoltaic Projects
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In 2012, a 11,000 watt solar photovoltaic array on the roof of
Aberdeen Hall. This project was funded through a grant by J.M.Huber.
Aberdeen Hall |
Wind
Projects
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In 2008, Harford Community College's first wind turbine
was installed near the pond. The turbine provides power for a pump to aerate
the pond. Additional photovoltaic panels were added to improve the
systems performance. |
Energy Efficiency
The first step in saving energy
requires an accurate picture of current use.
In 2002 the College commissioned an energy assessment to
provide a roadmap to achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency possible.
Below is a partial list of some of the energy
efficiency steps the College has taken:
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Installed Energy Management System with each new building
and renovation project
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Installed lighting motion sensors
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Replaced bare underground heating pipe with insulated
piping
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Converted oil burners to natural gas and installed new gas
burners
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Upgraded interior building lights to energy
efficient bulbs and ballasts
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Installed photo eye and timer on tennis court lights to
keep lights off during daytime
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Installed geo-thermal heating systems and solar hot
water heating systems
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Installed lighting control for Student Center to track
brightness of natural light and turn off lights as needed
These energy conservation measure will be incorporated
into all future building projects.
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Did you know?
The energy efficiency measures taken in the
renovation of Joppa Hall have resulted in a 30% energy savings annually.
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Student Life @ HCC
