Geothermal

One promising approach is geothermal heating and cooling, which offers a highly sustainable and energy-efficient solution for multifamily buildings. Utilizing fluid pumped through underground loops, these systems leverage the earth’s consistent temperature to efficiently transfer heat to or from the ground to provide indoor heating and cooling.

While still relatively rare across the multifamily world, geothermal systems have been appreciated for decades in high-end single-family homes and institutional settings because they are highly efficient, very reliable, and typically last longer with less ongoing maintenance than other heating and cooling systems (like Variable Refrigerant Flow or VRF approaches); for these reasons, geothermal may begin seeing wider adoption in the affordable housing sector, where it’s common to find central systems that are not individually metered — and where longevity and durability are key.

Hurdles do still exist: Typically, geothermal brings a higher upfront cost than a VRF or similar system. While geothermal may not be right for every project, TAT is always looking for innovative ways to solve project challenges and meet client needs, and the benefits are real and significant, especially when measured in cost and sustainability over time. Geothermal systems are very efficient in almost every climate, which means lower energy use (and lower energy costs) over the life of the building. And because most grids are still largely fossil fuel-powered, lower energy use at the building level is currently the most effective means of reducing operational carbon emissions. The durability of geothermal systems also means they typically last much longer than alternatives, less need to replace and repair components over time brings not just measurable cost savings, but also much lower embodied carbon footprints, too.