Geothermal system saves energy at Elburn community center

ELBURN – Patrick Leyden remembers a particularly cold winter when the heating bill for the Elburn and Countryside Community Center was about $12,000.

“And that was for one month,” said Leyden, who is president of the nonprofit center’s board of directors. “And the electric bill was $700 to $800.”

Last fall, after doing research and kicking the idea around for about four years, the board agreed to take a leap, he said. Officials replaced the building’s original 1929 boiler last fall by having J&R Herra of Elburn install a geothermal heating and cooling system for $400,000.

“The original boiler was coal that was converted to natural gas,” Leyden said. “It was killing us in our gas consumption. I’m glad we did this. It’s in and working beautifully.”

A geothermal system collects renewable energy from the earth and sun and transfers it for use as cooling or heating. Herra dug 60 200-foot wells outside the building to install the system, Leyden said.

“They have this pipe that goes down and up and down, and they all get connected,” Leyden said. “We have 18 rooms, and everybody can turn on their own cooling or heating. I’m really impressed with it.”

Even keeping the mild winter in mind, the bills were immediately lowered, Leyden said.

“Before, we averaged $5,000 for gas and $700 to $800 for electricity. During this winter, the cost was $2,200 a month,” Leyden said. “The savings is helping pay off the system we put in. I’m kicking myself, wishing that I would have done it at my house.”

The center received a $90,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, board member Bill Brauer said.

“We applied to them, and they agreed to a $90,000 grant nearly a quarter of the price, which is nice,” Brauer said. “And the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave us a partial loan guarantee. We applied for it. Now we just use a little electricity to run the pumps.”

Previously, each office had a window air conditioner, something Brauer called an “energy hog.”

“The energy saved from pulling those energy hogs all out should save more than what the little bit the pumps use,” Brauer said. “The nice thing is, the gym never had air conditioning before. It used to get so hot, it was like an oven in the summer. Now we can use it 24/7 – for open gym, basketball or bingo.”

The community center was a former school building converted for private use once new facilities were built. It operates as a nonprofit, renting out the gym and other offices or units.

“We have karate here, a preschool, dance classes of Irish dance to ballet, exercise rooms and the food pantry,” Leyden said. “The Elburn Chamber of Commerce is also in the building.”

The center is accepting donations toward paying off the geothermal unit. Checks may be sent to 525 N. Main St. Unit 1, Elburn, IL 60119.

Leyden said there is more work to do.

“We put in new lighting and replaced the roof,” Leyden said. “We need to replace the windows – they’re the original old windows from 1929. And we’re looking for grants for the parking lot – it’s in pretty bad shape. Then we’ll be good for another 100 years.”