AUBURN - The fast-tracked plan to install a geothermal heating and cooling system at the city of Auburn police and fire station on Market Street this fall was a little too fast.
Work on the geothermal project, which was initially planned to be completed in time for the heating season this October, has been postponed until spring, said Dave Laney, conservation program engineer for the New York Power Authority, which is overseeing the project.
"Because we had such a compressed time schedule and because of the size of the project, we did not get favorable bids for the work," he said. "We didn't feel like the pricing was competitive for the city."
The geothermal project is one part of a larger energy services program being completed by NYPA, which will also include various energy savings adjustments to eight other city buildings. Work on the remainder of the project is scheduled to begin in April, and Laney said work on the geothermal system will start then, as well.
The geothermal project had been fast-tracked because the boiler in the police and fire building was not functioning, and the city had hoped to provide heat to the building this winter through a geothermal system similar to the one installed in City Hall two years ago.
Instead, NYPA will determine whether it would be more cost-effective to replace or repair the existing boiler to heat the building this winter, Laney said.
"They're going to have reliable heat this winter," he said.
The repaired boiler will be incorporated into the geothermal system, acting as an emergency back-up if the geothermal system ever fails, he said.
Laney said the additional cost for having to repair or replace the boiler would be minimal when compared with the entire project. The entire project is estimated to cost $2.66 million, and should provide an estimated annual savings of $237,539.
Police Chief Gary Giannotta said the department had hoped to have the geothermal system installed this fall, but he said they were hopeful that the project would continue to progress next spring.
"We're definitely disappointed, but we've been told that it's going to go ahead," Giannotta said. "They're promising us that we're going to have heat (this winter). It will get us through the season."
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
"Because we had such a compressed time schedule and because of the size of the project, we did not get favorable bids for the work," he said. "We didn't feel like the pricing was competitive for the city."
The geothermal project is one part of a larger energy services program being completed by NYPA, which will also include various energy savings adjustments to eight other city buildings. Work on the remainder of the project is scheduled to begin in April, and Laney said work on the geothermal system will start then, as well.
The geothermal project had been fast-tracked because the boiler in the police and fire building was not functioning, and the city had hoped to provide heat to the building this winter through a geothermal system similar to the one installed in City Hall two years ago.
Instead, NYPA will determine whether it would be more cost-effective to replace or repair the existing boiler to heat the building this winter, Laney said.
"They're going to have reliable heat this winter," he said.
The repaired boiler will be incorporated into the geothermal system, acting as an emergency back-up if the geothermal system ever fails, he said.
Laney said the additional cost for having to repair or replace the boiler would be minimal when compared with the entire project. The entire project is estimated to cost $2.66 million, and should provide an estimated annual savings of $237,539.
Police Chief Gary Giannotta said the department had hoped to have the geothermal system installed this fall, but he said they were hopeful that the project would continue to progress next spring.
"We're definitely disappointed, but we've been told that it's going to go ahead," Giannotta said. "They're promising us that we're going to have heat (this winter). It will get us through the season."
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net
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