Features Geothermal
MEG installs first utility-based community geothermal system in N.Y. for National Grid

Riverhead, N.Y. – Miller Environmental Group has completed the geothermal bore drilling and installed the community loop field system for an innovative project providing heating and cooling to 10 homes in a town in Long Island, N.Y.

MEG was contracted by National Grid to design and build a cost-effective, renewable clean geothermal heating and cooling complex for a cluster of homes.

“This is the first of 35 sites on Long Island that will receive heating and cooling systems under the State’s own demonstration project,” said Alicia Barton, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority representative, in a news release from the environmental services company.

The Glenwood Village project is also another milestone for MEG having recently completed the geothermal system installation for the Hallock State Park Visitor Center in Jamesport, New York.

“We are excited to be the company selected to install the first of 35-utility based community geothermal systems in New York by National Grid. MEG has a 45-year history supporting National Grid and its predecessor companies,” said Mark Miller, president and CEO of MEG. “MEG has successfully designed and built over 650 Geothermal Systems ranging in size from an 1100 ft² home to a 30,000 ft² office/warehouse. These projects translate to an annual energy cost savings for our customers of $10 Million per annum and represent a reduction of oil burned of 2 million gallons per year.”

According to National Grid, Glenwood Village is a part of an innovative three-year Reforming the Energy Vision demonstration project that is bringing heating and cooling on a shared basis to a large number of homes. The goal of the project is to gather detailed data on cost, effectiveness and customer satisfaction and ultimately determine, in collaboration with the New York State Public Service Commission and NYSERDA, whether the project can be replicated on a larger scale. 

“The Glenwood Village project marks a significant step for our geothermal system design and build team at MEG. The ability to tie together ten (10) homes to a community geothermal heating and cooling system sets the stage for even larger utility based geothermal systems going forward,” said Dave Reardon, civil engineer and lead geothermal technical specialist with MEG.