Brightcore Energy President Mike Richter wants everyone to consider geothermal heating systems — even for projects where the technology was once prohibitively expensive.
Case in point: the New York-based sustainable energy company has been tapped to implement its geothermal HVAC technology in Washington, D.C.’s Barry Farm redevelopment, a large-scale, if somewhat controversial, public and affordable housing overhaul project in the Southeast corner of the District.
Brightcore provides various clean energy systems for commercial buildings, though geothermal heating and cooling is its specialty via what it calls “UrbanGeo,” which uses a compact drilling rig that can operate in confined spaces.
Brightcore’s first foray into D.C., via two new buildings at Barry Farm, also marks the District’s first implementation of a large-scale community geothermal heat pump system. Once the project is completed, Richter hopes it will help ignite a rush for geothermal in urban commercial and multifamily buildings, as the once generally infeasible technology becomes less intrusive, quieter and cheaper.
