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The Linda Hall Library will save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions when its geothermal heating and cooling system is completed.

Linda Hall Library grows 600 feet down

By: Jonathan Pearson

Posted: 9/12/05

Mounds of ash-colored earth smother the green summer grass. Bulldozers, cranes and drilling machines fill the air with dust, exhaust and noise. There's quite a mess behind Linda Hall Library where students once walked to get to and from class.

But in the end, this mess of nature will be to its benefit. The sophisticated geothermal heating and cooling system below will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also saving green in the library's budget.

The Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology is currently undergoing a massive expansion to keep up with the amount of growth expected over the next 50 years to the library's collection.

This almost $19 million project includes the remodeling of 50,000 square feet of already existing space and a geothermal system that includes 12 heat pumps to heat and cool the facility.

In order to create this system, construction crews had to drill 100 holes approximately 625 feet deep. The system works by circulating water through the pumps below ground level at rate of 2,160 gallons of water. By placing it underground, below frost level, the system can be used year-round due to its constant temperature.

This geothermal system has many environmental benefits including significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported findings in 2000 that "the greenhouse gas emissions from the geothermal heat pump systems are 55 to 60 percent lower than those associated with standard air-source heat pumps."

Another study from the U.S. Geological Service reports that from 1994 until 2003, geothermal power plant designs have completely eliminated carbon dioxide emissions because current system designs do not vent the geothermal fluids into the atmosphere.

Even though the geothermal heating and cooling system does add a significant price tag to the expansion project, it will save on heating and cooling costs over the next 3-5 years, ultimately paying for itself completely.

Additional parking spaces were also added to accommodate the library's 100 full-time employees. This parking, however, will not be available for UMKC use since the library is separate from the University. Each entity owns one side of Holmes between 51st and 52nd St.

Many people come to visit the Linda Hall library to see the 14-acre grounds that contain 450 different trees representing around 58 genera, 165 species and 100 varieties of tree peonies. This locally dubbed "urban arboretum" also contains woodland and prairie plants that are native to Missouri.

The library is open to the public but privately funded through a $200 million endowment, and no state or local tax dollars are used. This expansion project is planned for an August 2006 completion date.

jpearson@unews.com

News Editor Michael Leahy contributed to this report.