WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.988 align:middle line:90% [SQUEAKING] 00:00:01.988 --> 00:00:03.976 align:middle line:90% [RUSTLING] 00:00:03.976 --> 00:00:05.467 align:middle line:90% [CLICKING] 00:00:05.467 --> 00:00:11.440 align:middle line:90% 00:00:11.440 --> 00:00:15.800 align:middle line:84% MODERATOR: And our next speaker is Eric Bosworth 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:17.560 align:middle line:90% from Eversource Energy. 00:00:17.560 --> 00:00:20.280 align:middle line:84% And he has collaborated with Eversource 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:23.000 align:middle line:84% in the Framingham site, acquiring temperature data 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:24.320 align:middle line:90% down the boreholes. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:28.170 align:middle line:90% 00:00:28.170 --> 00:00:28.920 align:middle line:90% ERIC BOSWORTH: Hi. 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:29.540 align:middle line:90% I'm good. 00:00:29.540 --> 00:00:32.640 align:middle line:84% I am the privileged individual that 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.380 align:middle line:84% gets to run anchor here before lunch. 00:00:35.380 --> 00:00:37.880 align:middle line:90% So thanks for bearing with me. 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:41.420 align:middle line:84% For those of you that I don't know, my name is Eric Bosworth. 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:44.520 align:middle line:84% I work in the Clean Technologies Department at Eversource. 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:47.240 align:middle line:84% And for better or worse, I have had the privilege 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:49.920 align:middle line:84% of overseeing the Framingham project 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:52.180 align:middle line:90% from before site selection. 00:00:52.180 --> 00:00:55.000 align:middle line:84% So I joined on to the team to oversee it 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:57.200 align:middle line:84% as we were figuring out where and how we were going 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:59.910 align:middle line:84% to do this and all the way through today, 00:00:59.910 --> 00:01:04.050 align:middle line:84% when we are up in operation with customers using the system. 00:01:04.050 --> 00:01:06.310 align:middle line:84% So folks have talked about the project a lot 00:01:06.310 --> 00:01:08.370 align:middle line:84% over the last day and a half here. 00:01:08.370 --> 00:01:12.070 align:middle line:84% I don't need to go over Framingham necessarily. 00:01:12.070 --> 00:01:14.950 align:middle line:84% What I'm hoping to do is bring the perspective of we've 00:01:14.950 --> 00:01:18.350 align:middle line:84% had a lot of insight into, what's the big picture? 00:01:18.350 --> 00:01:21.070 align:middle line:84% What's the policy direction we need to go into? 00:01:21.070 --> 00:01:23.250 align:middle line:84% How do we design a system like this? 00:01:23.250 --> 00:01:25.332 align:middle line:84% How do we operate a system like this? 00:01:25.332 --> 00:01:27.790 align:middle line:84% I'm going to bring you the perspective of what happens when 00:01:27.790 --> 00:01:30.790 align:middle line:84% you get out there and start tearing up pavement and actually 00:01:30.790 --> 00:01:31.590 align:middle line:90% putting it in. 00:01:31.590 --> 00:01:34.350 align:middle line:84% Because nothing really prepares you for that 00:01:34.350 --> 00:01:35.370 align:middle line:90% until you're into it. 00:01:35.370 --> 00:01:38.030 align:middle line:84% And there's certainly some lessons learned and scars 00:01:38.030 --> 00:01:41.070 align:middle line:90% along the way that you pick up. 00:01:41.070 --> 00:01:44.070 align:middle line:84% Here's a basic breakdown of the three main work 00:01:44.070 --> 00:01:46.590 align:middle line:84% streams that go into actually building a shared 00:01:46.590 --> 00:01:49.270 align:middle line:90% thermal network in a community. 00:01:49.270 --> 00:01:50.910 align:middle line:90% You've got the ground exchanger. 00:01:50.910 --> 00:01:53.310 align:middle line:84% Brock was just talking about drilling. 00:01:53.310 --> 00:01:55.430 align:middle line:84% We've talked about thermal conductivity testing 00:01:55.430 --> 00:01:58.180 align:middle line:84% and how the ground exchanger works. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:00.680 align:middle line:84% It's pretty straightforward, but that's your energy source. 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:02.337 align:middle line:84% You're putting holes into the ground. 00:02:02.337 --> 00:02:03.920 align:middle line:84% You're pulling heat out in the winter. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:05.560 align:middle line:84% You're putting heat in the summer. 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:07.500 align:middle line:84% That's what's fueling your network. 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:09.400 align:middle line:84% But the other pieces are just important. 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:11.220 align:middle line:84% You have the distribution loop, the pipes 00:02:11.220 --> 00:02:13.060 align:middle line:84% in the street, the service lines that you're 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:14.400 align:middle line:90% pulling into the homes. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.980 align:middle line:84% How do you move the energy through the neighborhood? 00:02:16.980 --> 00:02:20.780 align:middle line:84% And then finally, the building conversions, certainly not third 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:22.267 align:middle line:90% in importance here. 00:02:22.267 --> 00:02:24.100 align:middle line:84% What are you doing to the building envelope, 00:02:24.100 --> 00:02:26.780 align:middle line:84% and how are you interfacing with that thermal network? 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:29.960 align:middle line:84% How are you keeping your customers warm in the winter, 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:31.220 align:middle line:90% cool in the summer? 00:02:31.220 --> 00:02:33.740 align:middle line:84% And what equipment is involved there? 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:35.820 align:middle line:84% So stepping through each of those, 00:02:35.820 --> 00:02:38.380 align:middle line:84% I like to start with main installation 00:02:38.380 --> 00:02:39.340 align:middle line:90% pipes in the street. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:42.700 align:middle line:84% Because as a utility, this is our bread and butter. 00:02:42.700 --> 00:02:46.980 align:middle line:84% We put in hundreds and hundreds of miles of this HDPE pipe 00:02:46.980 --> 00:02:48.300 align:middle line:90% every year. 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:49.148 align:middle line:90% We know this. 00:02:49.148 --> 00:02:50.440 align:middle line:90% We know how to open the street. 00:02:50.440 --> 00:02:51.680 align:middle line:90% We know how to fuse pipe. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:53.540 align:middle line:84% We know how to get it into the ground. 00:02:53.540 --> 00:02:57.090 align:middle line:84% We know how to test it, to the points that Mark brought up, 00:02:57.090 --> 00:02:58.930 align:middle line:84% making sure that the fusions are good 00:02:58.930 --> 00:03:02.650 align:middle line:84% and the pressure testing is appropriate and documented. 00:03:02.650 --> 00:03:05.430 align:middle line:84% This part of the project was, I will say, 00:03:05.430 --> 00:03:10.210 align:middle line:84% the smoothest part from a timeline, a cost, 00:03:10.210 --> 00:03:11.830 align:middle line:90% an execution standpoint. 00:03:11.830 --> 00:03:13.110 align:middle line:90% Our crews know how to do this. 00:03:13.110 --> 00:03:15.890 align:middle line:84% We actually took crews that had been putting 00:03:15.890 --> 00:03:19.210 align:middle line:84% gas pipe in the year before, did a little bit of retraining 00:03:19.210 --> 00:03:21.250 align:middle line:84% on them, showed them how to stencil geothermal 00:03:21.250 --> 00:03:24.307 align:middle line:84% on the side of the pipe, and they were off to the races. 00:03:24.307 --> 00:03:25.890 align:middle line:84% They got out there, and they installed 00:03:25.890 --> 00:03:29.250 align:middle line:84% all of this mile of pipe, plus all 38 services, 00:03:29.250 --> 00:03:31.650 align:middle line:90% in about two to three months. 00:03:31.650 --> 00:03:32.310 align:middle line:90% It was great. 00:03:32.310 --> 00:03:34.570 align:middle line:90% It was exactly as we planned it. 00:03:34.570 --> 00:03:36.930 align:middle line:84% Similarly, the service lines, just 00:03:36.930 --> 00:03:39.010 align:middle line:84% like a water service or a gas service 00:03:39.010 --> 00:03:42.290 align:middle line:84% or anything else that you would pull to a home, we dug a trench. 00:03:42.290 --> 00:03:44.630 align:middle line:84% There's two lines in this case, instead of one. 00:03:44.630 --> 00:03:46.690 align:middle line:84% So we have a send and receive line. 00:03:46.690 --> 00:03:49.670 align:middle line:84% But for the most part, it's all the same materials. 00:03:49.670 --> 00:03:51.778 align:middle line:84% It's HDPE pipe that we're fusing. 00:03:51.778 --> 00:03:53.070 align:middle line:90% We're pulling it into the home. 00:03:53.070 --> 00:03:55.090 align:middle line:84% We're putting it into a pair of shut-off valves 00:03:55.090 --> 00:03:56.870 align:middle line:90% on the inside of the basement. 00:03:56.870 --> 00:03:59.810 align:middle line:84% And it feels just like utility work. 00:03:59.810 --> 00:04:01.450 align:middle line:84% Even from the outside, if you watched 00:04:01.450 --> 00:04:04.577 align:middle line:84% a crew doing this trenching, repaving in the street, 00:04:04.577 --> 00:04:06.910 align:middle line:84% you'd have no idea that they were putting geothermal in. 00:04:06.910 --> 00:04:09.690 align:middle line:84% It just looks like everyday utility work. 00:04:09.690 --> 00:04:13.090 align:middle line:84% So these two work streams, great, fantastic. 00:04:13.090 --> 00:04:14.110 align:middle line:90% We understand them. 00:04:14.110 --> 00:04:15.510 align:middle line:90% We do them all the time. 00:04:15.510 --> 00:04:17.570 align:middle line:90% They were easy. 00:04:17.570 --> 00:04:18.570 align:middle line:90% Borefield drilling? 00:04:18.570 --> 00:04:21.390 align:middle line:84% Eh, not necessarily a utility's forte. 00:04:21.390 --> 00:04:23.130 align:middle line:84% I think this is one of the first times 00:04:23.130 --> 00:04:25.650 align:middle line:84% that at least a gas utility in the nation 00:04:25.650 --> 00:04:29.970 align:middle line:84% has drilled boreholes, and there were some lessons learned. 00:04:29.970 --> 00:04:32.090 align:middle line:84% Brock talked a lot about this, so I'm not 00:04:32.090 --> 00:04:34.990 align:middle line:84% going to harp too much on drilling specifically. 00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:37.210 align:middle line:84% But there's questions about site layout 00:04:37.210 --> 00:04:39.630 align:middle line:84% and what formation are you drilling in. 00:04:39.630 --> 00:04:41.030 align:middle line:90% How quickly can you drill? 00:04:41.030 --> 00:04:43.730 align:middle line:84% How do you manage your water and your cuttings? 00:04:43.730 --> 00:04:44.830 align:middle line:90% We were learning. 00:04:44.830 --> 00:04:46.190 align:middle line:90% We brought in experts. 00:04:46.190 --> 00:04:47.390 align:middle line:90% They did a great job. 00:04:47.390 --> 00:04:49.510 align:middle line:84% They designed great ground exchangers. 00:04:49.510 --> 00:04:51.410 align:middle line:90% They executed well. 00:04:51.410 --> 00:04:54.960 align:middle line:84% But for us, as the utility, it was more a learning opportunity 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:55.660 align:middle line:90% than anything. 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:58.360 align:middle line:84% We certainly weren't out there directing the drillers 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:00.220 align:middle line:90% on how to run their operation. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:03.240 align:middle line:84% We were letting the experts do what they do best. 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:05.860 align:middle line:84% And then in the future, we look at Framingham. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:08.000 align:middle line:84% We potentially have an expansion coming up here 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.380 align:middle line:90% in the next year or two. 00:05:09.380 --> 00:05:11.720 align:middle line:84% And we've learned some lessons from the first time 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.800 align:middle line:84% around that we will apply the next time we go out 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:15.900 align:middle line:90% to drill a borefield. 00:05:15.900 --> 00:05:17.780 align:middle line:84% And hopefully, we can do it quicker, 00:05:17.780 --> 00:05:20.320 align:middle line:84% we can do it more cost effectively the second time 00:05:20.320 --> 00:05:21.760 align:middle line:90% around. 00:05:21.760 --> 00:05:24.020 align:middle line:84% Just to talk a little bit to the pictures here, 00:05:24.020 --> 00:05:25.580 align:middle line:90% there's a lot going on. 00:05:25.580 --> 00:05:27.480 align:middle line:84% But we did take advantage of some 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.200 align:middle line:84% of those nice deviated drilling techniques on our project 00:05:30.200 --> 00:05:32.020 align:middle line:84% that you can see here on the left. 00:05:32.020 --> 00:05:33.760 align:middle line:84% And then on the right, that's what 00:05:33.760 --> 00:05:36.618 align:middle line:84% the manifold looks like when you come out of a borehole. 00:05:36.618 --> 00:05:38.660 align:middle line:84% So once you've got all those holes in the ground, 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:40.860 align:middle line:84% you got to tie them together with pipes. 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:43.120 align:middle line:84% So you pull all of the inlets and outlets 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:45.220 align:middle line:90% together into a single vault. 00:05:45.220 --> 00:05:47.220 align:middle line:84% You have a nice, long header for each of them. 00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:50.340 align:middle line:84% And that way, you can control the individual borehole runs. 00:05:50.340 --> 00:05:53.250 align:middle line:84% You can turn them on and off with valves if you want to. 00:05:53.250 --> 00:05:54.490 align:middle line:90% You can pressure test them. 00:05:54.490 --> 00:05:55.870 align:middle line:84% You can make sure that the system 00:05:55.870 --> 00:05:59.650 align:middle line:84% is on and running appropriately before you cover it back up. 00:05:59.650 --> 00:06:02.530 align:middle line:84% Because again, Mark mentioned this multiple times-- 00:06:02.530 --> 00:06:04.310 align:middle line:84% but you really, really want to make sure 00:06:04.310 --> 00:06:06.590 align:middle line:84% that there are no issues or leaks before you 00:06:06.590 --> 00:06:09.510 align:middle line:90% backfill these systems. 00:06:09.510 --> 00:06:12.290 align:middle line:84% The pump house, kind of similar to the distribution loop. 00:06:12.290 --> 00:06:14.630 align:middle line:84% But this is the only above-ground structure 00:06:14.630 --> 00:06:16.670 align:middle line:90% on our system. 00:06:16.670 --> 00:06:19.650 align:middle line:84% We chose to do it as a prefabricated building. 00:06:19.650 --> 00:06:21.770 align:middle line:84% So we came in, and we laid a foundation. 00:06:21.770 --> 00:06:24.710 align:middle line:84% We had as much of the mechanical work and piping and electrical 00:06:24.710 --> 00:06:27.710 align:middle line:84% done as we possibly could beforehand and then dropped 00:06:27.710 --> 00:06:31.430 align:middle line:84% the building down on top of the foundation afterwards. 00:06:31.430 --> 00:06:34.130 align:middle line:84% And really, all it does is it's got the central pumps. 00:06:34.130 --> 00:06:36.943 align:middle line:84% It's got our control system, and it's got a little bit of backup 00:06:36.943 --> 00:06:39.110 align:middle line:84% in the sense that we have a central boiler in there, 00:06:39.110 --> 00:06:42.190 align:middle line:84% just in case we need to add some heat to the system. 00:06:42.190 --> 00:06:44.090 align:middle line:90% It was designed to not need it. 00:06:44.090 --> 00:06:46.790 align:middle line:84% But as a utility, the very first time 00:06:46.790 --> 00:06:48.710 align:middle line:84% out, we want to make absolutely sure 00:06:48.710 --> 00:06:52.220 align:middle line:84% that there are no problems with the operation of the system. 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:53.940 align:middle line:84% That comes back to customer perception 00:06:53.940 --> 00:06:55.970 align:middle line:84% and could affect adoption long term. 00:06:55.970 --> 00:06:59.935 align:middle line:84% So for our project, it also now serves as a very nice area 00:06:59.935 --> 00:07:01.560 align:middle line:84% where, when we come out and have tours, 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:03.900 align:middle line:84% we can talk through some of the equipment involved 00:07:03.900 --> 00:07:05.860 align:middle line:90% and how the system works. 00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:07.900 align:middle line:84% It's really paid dividends to end up 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:10.420 align:middle line:90% going above ground in this case. 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:12.580 align:middle line:84% We won't necessarily always do that. 00:07:12.580 --> 00:07:15.320 align:middle line:84% Looking to future iterations, we may volt pumps. 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:18.060 align:middle line:84% We may bury things if we don't have the space to do it. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:19.900 align:middle line:84% But at least in Framingham, the pump house 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:23.340 align:middle line:90% was a critical part of the loop. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:26.020 align:middle line:84% Finally, getting into building conversions. 00:07:26.020 --> 00:07:30.420 align:middle line:84% This has by far been and was the most challenging part 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:33.620 align:middle line:84% of getting a system online and running. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:36.170 align:middle line:84% Having the loop in the street, having it on and running, 00:07:36.170 --> 00:07:37.920 align:middle line:84% we kind of knew what we were getting into. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:41.360 align:middle line:84% It wasn't necessarily all skill sets that we were familiar with, 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:44.180 align:middle line:90% but we knew what to expect. 00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:47.400 align:middle line:84% Building conversions, every single one, 00:07:47.400 --> 00:07:49.530 align:middle line:84% you have no idea what you're getting into when 00:07:49.530 --> 00:07:50.930 align:middle line:90% you get into that building. 00:07:50.930 --> 00:07:52.190 align:middle line:90% We found mold. 00:07:52.190 --> 00:07:53.550 align:middle line:90% We found asbestos. 00:07:53.550 --> 00:07:55.930 align:middle line:90% We found knob and tube wiring. 00:07:55.930 --> 00:07:59.270 align:middle line:84% You name it, we found it in one of these homes or buildings. 00:07:59.270 --> 00:08:01.850 align:middle line:84% And that may be somewhat unique to the building stock 00:08:01.850 --> 00:08:04.730 align:middle line:84% here in the Northeast, but it's a reality 00:08:04.730 --> 00:08:06.910 align:middle line:90% of large retrofit projects. 00:08:06.910 --> 00:08:09.650 align:middle line:84% You're going to have to tackle these types of problems. 00:08:09.650 --> 00:08:12.530 align:middle line:84% So from an execution standpoint, we really 00:08:12.530 --> 00:08:15.710 align:middle line:84% tried to individualize it for all of our customers, 00:08:15.710 --> 00:08:18.630 align:middle line:84% get into their home, explain exactly what we needed to do, 00:08:18.630 --> 00:08:20.070 align:middle line:90% how we were going to do it. 00:08:20.070 --> 00:08:21.330 align:middle line:90% We ran ducting. 00:08:21.330 --> 00:08:25.310 align:middle line:84% We did about 15 to 20 main panel upgrades in this neighborhood. 00:08:25.310 --> 00:08:29.363 align:middle line:84% So it wasn't just, how do I put a heat pump in? 00:08:29.363 --> 00:08:31.030 align:middle line:84% That's generally pretty straightforward. 00:08:31.030 --> 00:08:32.210 align:middle line:90% You get the unit in. 00:08:32.210 --> 00:08:33.510 align:middle line:90% You may need some ducting. 00:08:33.510 --> 00:08:36.330 align:middle line:84% You may need to adjust the existing ducting in the room. 00:08:36.330 --> 00:08:39.429 align:middle line:84% But the rest of the building is important too. 00:08:39.429 --> 00:08:40.429 align:middle line:90% Are we air sealing? 00:08:40.429 --> 00:08:41.510 align:middle line:90% Are we weatherizing? 00:08:41.510 --> 00:08:43.669 align:middle line:84% Are we upgrading electrical systems? 00:08:43.669 --> 00:08:47.760 align:middle line:84% So the whole picture ends up playing into what the building 00:08:47.760 --> 00:08:49.220 align:middle line:90% conversions look like. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:52.040 align:middle line:84% And we demonstrated virtually every type of conversion, 00:08:52.040 --> 00:08:54.960 align:middle line:84% as well, on this project that you can have. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:57.200 align:middle line:84% The good news is there's equipment out there 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:59.160 align:middle line:90% to tackle almost all of it. 00:08:59.160 --> 00:09:02.980 align:middle line:84% Most of the residential homes were using forced-air systems. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:03.620 align:middle line:90% So we came in. 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.580 align:middle line:90% We put a heat pump in. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:07.320 align:middle line:84% We distributed it with ducting and air systems. 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:09.560 align:middle line:84% The commercial buildings, we had rooftop units 00:09:09.560 --> 00:09:12.440 align:middle line:84% that we could actually just lift their old unit off and drop 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:14.080 align:middle line:84% their new unit on top of the roof 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.600 align:middle line:84% and reuse all of the existing distribution 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:18.000 align:middle line:90% system in the building. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.360 align:middle line:84% And then we had some more niche applications, 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:22.240 align:middle line:84% things like console units that look 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.960 align:middle line:84% almost like one of those hotel air conditioners that 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:26.280 align:middle line:90% sit under the window. 00:09:26.280 --> 00:09:29.600 align:middle line:84% We put those into a number of the subsidized housing 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.880 align:middle line:90% apartments on this loop as well. 00:09:31.880 --> 00:09:35.180 align:middle line:84% And just to emphasize that it's not necessarily, will it work? 00:09:35.180 --> 00:09:39.680 align:middle line:84% It's, how do I make it work with every single one of these? 00:09:39.680 --> 00:09:41.685 align:middle line:84% Finally, overall project management. 00:09:41.685 --> 00:09:44.060 align:middle line:84% I talked a little bit about this on building conversions. 00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:47.430 align:middle line:84% But making sure that we were having 00:09:47.430 --> 00:09:50.230 align:middle line:84% a very detailed and customer-focused approach 00:09:50.230 --> 00:09:53.110 align:middle line:84% through the entire project was important too. 00:09:53.110 --> 00:09:56.030 align:middle line:84% As a utility, generally, we stay in the streets. 00:09:56.030 --> 00:09:56.978 align:middle line:90% We're putting pipes. 00:09:56.978 --> 00:09:57.770 align:middle line:90% We're pulling them. 00:09:57.770 --> 00:10:01.350 align:middle line:84% There's a demarcation point, and everything downstream is usually 00:10:01.350 --> 00:10:03.110 align:middle line:90% the customer's responsibility. 00:10:03.110 --> 00:10:04.890 align:middle line:90% Not in the case of this project. 00:10:04.890 --> 00:10:08.070 align:middle line:84% The scope of our pilot approved by the department 00:10:08.070 --> 00:10:11.150 align:middle line:84% was including all of the building-side equipment 00:10:11.150 --> 00:10:12.070 align:middle line:90% and work. 00:10:12.070 --> 00:10:15.130 align:middle line:84% So we had to manage that part of the project as well. 00:10:15.130 --> 00:10:17.130 align:middle line:84% We were meeting with the customers in the field. 00:10:17.130 --> 00:10:18.410 align:middle line:90% We were explaining things. 00:10:18.410 --> 00:10:21.490 align:middle line:84% We were having them look at exactly what was going in, 00:10:21.490 --> 00:10:22.653 align:middle line:90% where it was going in. 00:10:22.653 --> 00:10:24.070 align:middle line:84% We were getting feedback on things 00:10:24.070 --> 00:10:26.970 align:middle line:84% like, I'd like the ducting over here versus over there. 00:10:26.970 --> 00:10:28.890 align:middle line:90% Can you box it in with drywall? 00:10:28.890 --> 00:10:30.790 align:middle line:90% Can you paint it after the fact? 00:10:30.790 --> 00:10:35.110 align:middle line:84% All of these little details that make project management very 00:10:35.110 --> 00:10:36.250 align:middle line:90% challenging. 00:10:36.250 --> 00:10:37.710 align:middle line:90% But it's extremely important. 00:10:37.710 --> 00:10:40.070 align:middle line:84% Because at the end of the day, I want these customers 00:10:40.070 --> 00:10:41.370 align:middle line:90% to have a good experience. 00:10:41.370 --> 00:10:43.073 align:middle line:84% I want them to like their new systems, 00:10:43.073 --> 00:10:44.990 align:middle line:84% and I want them to tell all of their neighbors 00:10:44.990 --> 00:10:47.110 align:middle line:84% about how great it was, as well, because that's 00:10:47.110 --> 00:10:52.206 align:middle line:84% how we grow the system and get adoption to continue. 00:10:52.206 --> 00:10:54.683 align:middle line:84% Summing up the construction side of things. 00:10:54.683 --> 00:10:57.090 align:middle line:84% Timeline and parallel work streams. 00:10:57.090 --> 00:10:59.050 align:middle line:84% If I were to go do this project again, 00:10:59.050 --> 00:11:00.950 align:middle line:84% there are a lot of levers I could pull here 00:11:00.950 --> 00:11:04.130 align:middle line:84% for having simultaneous jobs go on 00:11:04.130 --> 00:11:06.893 align:middle line:84% so that my overall timeline could be shrunk. 00:11:06.893 --> 00:11:08.310 align:middle line:84% I think in the second iteration, I 00:11:08.310 --> 00:11:11.670 align:middle line:84% could probably trim about 25% to 30% of our schedule 00:11:11.670 --> 00:11:15.910 align:middle line:84% off if I was going into it knowing what I know now. 00:11:15.910 --> 00:11:18.370 align:middle line:84% There are always the traditional utility challenges. 00:11:18.370 --> 00:11:20.870 align:middle line:84% We ran into buried infrastructure 00:11:20.870 --> 00:11:23.433 align:middle line:84% that wasn't on any map, wasn't on any diagram. 00:11:23.433 --> 00:11:25.350 align:middle line:84% And you're digging along, and all of a sudden, 00:11:25.350 --> 00:11:28.030 align:middle line:84% you see a wooden conduit in the street. 00:11:28.030 --> 00:11:29.610 align:middle line:84% So you got to navigate around it. 00:11:29.610 --> 00:11:31.690 align:middle line:84% You have to make some on-the-job decisions, 00:11:31.690 --> 00:11:34.990 align:middle line:84% some on-the-fly changes to your system. 00:11:34.990 --> 00:11:36.910 align:middle line:90% Those were manageable. 00:11:36.910 --> 00:11:39.720 align:middle line:84% There were some geothermal-specific challenges. 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.620 align:middle line:84% The drilling went well, but there was a learning 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:44.360 align:middle line:90% curve there, the geology. 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:46.040 align:middle line:84% What type of drilling we were using? 00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:47.680 align:middle line:90% We tried air hammer. 00:11:47.680 --> 00:11:48.760 align:middle line:90% We did mud rotary. 00:11:48.760 --> 00:11:52.060 align:middle line:84% We kind of traded off to decide what was exactly the best way 00:11:52.060 --> 00:11:54.700 align:middle line:84% to drill in this specific neighborhood. 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:57.520 align:middle line:84% And then on the HVAC side of things, to this day, 00:11:57.520 --> 00:12:00.420 align:middle line:84% I'm still helping customers dial their systems in. 00:12:00.420 --> 00:12:03.400 align:middle line:84% So it's not necessarily, as soon as everything is installed, 00:12:03.400 --> 00:12:05.480 align:middle line:84% you walk away and it runs perfectly. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:09.340 align:middle line:84% There is definitely a period of adjustment and improvement 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:12.180 align:middle line:84% and optimization that you can make. 00:12:12.180 --> 00:12:13.400 align:middle line:90% Site access and scheduling. 00:12:13.400 --> 00:12:15.650 align:middle line:84% This was actually something that ended up affecting us 00:12:15.650 --> 00:12:19.040 align:middle line:84% quite a lot in terms of overall project schedule. 00:12:19.040 --> 00:12:22.600 align:middle line:84% But the reality is you're installing these in a community. 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:23.640 align:middle line:90% It's people's yards. 00:12:23.640 --> 00:12:25.000 align:middle line:90% It's people's homes. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.360 align:middle line:90% It's school property. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:28.797 align:middle line:84% And so when you're first planning the project, 00:12:28.797 --> 00:12:30.380 align:middle line:84% you're not necessarily thinking about, 00:12:30.380 --> 00:12:33.380 align:middle line:84% ooh, maybe they're not going to let me drill or have access 00:12:33.380 --> 00:12:35.720 align:middle line:84% to the school property in the fall, 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:38.860 align:middle line:84% as everything is ramping up and students are all coming back. 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:41.230 align:middle line:84% Individual customers, they go on vacation. 00:12:41.230 --> 00:12:42.338 align:middle line:90% They have their own lives. 00:12:42.338 --> 00:12:43.630 align:middle line:90% They have their work schedules. 00:12:43.630 --> 00:12:45.530 align:middle line:84% So you have to really work around 00:12:45.530 --> 00:12:48.970 align:middle line:84% all of the individual pieces to get everything to come together. 00:12:48.970 --> 00:12:51.470 align:middle line:84% Otherwise, you find yourself sitting and waiting and saying, 00:12:51.470 --> 00:12:54.630 align:middle line:84% well, I guess I can't get access to the site today. 00:12:54.630 --> 00:12:56.670 align:middle line:90% Let's wait a week until I can. 00:12:56.670 --> 00:12:59.810 align:middle line:84% And that has impacts on the overall job. 00:12:59.810 --> 00:13:02.710 align:middle line:84% Finally, I mentioned these, but unknown building conditions. 00:13:02.710 --> 00:13:06.290 align:middle line:84% I'm going to mention it again because it was such 00:13:06.290 --> 00:13:08.050 align:middle line:90% a challenge on the project. 00:13:08.050 --> 00:13:11.930 align:middle line:84% Really taking good stock of what buildings are in your planned 00:13:11.930 --> 00:13:14.450 align:middle line:84% community or planned area, understanding 00:13:14.450 --> 00:13:17.150 align:middle line:84% what some of the common things that you may encounter are, 00:13:17.150 --> 00:13:19.890 align:middle line:84% and having a plan for it ahead of time. 00:13:19.890 --> 00:13:23.970 align:middle line:84% Asbestos remediation delayed some of our building conversions 00:13:23.970 --> 00:13:27.210 align:middle line:84% a good three to four months in this case. 00:13:27.210 --> 00:13:30.610 align:middle line:84% We got into, specifically, the low-income housing 00:13:30.610 --> 00:13:32.090 align:middle line:90% apartment buildings. 00:13:32.090 --> 00:13:35.610 align:middle line:84% We realized there may be some asbestos in the joining compound 00:13:35.610 --> 00:13:38.340 align:middle line:84% and the walls that they had used to construct those. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:40.240 align:middle line:84% And it was about a four-month process 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:45.000 align:middle line:84% to test every single unit, document it with the state, 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.700 align:middle line:84% come up with a remediation plan, have that plan approved, 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:51.920 align:middle line:84% and then have qualified contractors come in, 00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:53.760 align:middle line:84% set up all of their air containment, 00:13:53.760 --> 00:13:55.840 align:middle line:84% and do that remediation so that we could actually 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.340 align:middle line:90% install the heat pumps. 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:59.200 align:middle line:84% So it's those types of things that when 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.080 align:middle line:84% you're in the initial planning stage, 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.360 align:middle line:84% if you know there's a chance that these buildings may 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:07.020 align:middle line:84% have asbestos in them, go ahead and test it during design. 00:14:07.020 --> 00:14:08.740 align:middle line:84% Come up with your remediation plan. 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:11.390 align:middle line:84% That way, when you're into project execution, 00:14:11.390 --> 00:14:13.140 align:middle line:84% you've got it all baked into the schedule, 00:14:13.140 --> 00:14:18.532 align:middle line:84% and it's not going to delay that particular part of the project. 00:14:18.532 --> 00:14:20.740 align:middle line:84% Moving on a little bit to commissions and operations. 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:23.200 align:middle line:84% Because as I said, once the system is in the ground 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:25.340 align:middle line:84% physically, that does not necessarily mean 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:27.320 align:middle line:90% it's up and running. 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:31.080 align:middle line:84% A lot of lessons learned and challenges here as well. 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:34.440 align:middle line:84% These screenshots here below are from our real-time SCADA system. 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:37.550 align:middle line:84% There was a great discussion earlier around optimization 00:14:37.550 --> 00:14:39.710 align:middle line:84% and control and feedback on how you 00:14:39.710 --> 00:14:43.550 align:middle line:84% run and operate one of these thermal energy networks. 00:14:43.550 --> 00:14:44.410 align:middle line:90% That's what we did. 00:14:44.410 --> 00:14:46.930 align:middle line:84% We had a SCADA system set up so that real time, 00:14:46.930 --> 00:14:49.490 align:middle line:84% anytime of the day, I can see what my pump speeds are. 00:14:49.490 --> 00:14:50.730 align:middle line:90% I can see my temperatures. 00:14:50.730 --> 00:14:52.090 align:middle line:90% I can see my pressures. 00:14:52.090 --> 00:14:54.190 align:middle line:84% I can see customer behavior based 00:14:54.190 --> 00:14:56.550 align:middle line:84% on the historic temperature trends. 00:14:56.550 --> 00:15:00.850 align:middle line:84% So getting that system up and running was almost step one. 00:15:00.850 --> 00:15:02.690 align:middle line:84% Before I could even add a single customer, 00:15:02.690 --> 00:15:05.470 align:middle line:84% I wanted to be able to see the system remotely 00:15:05.470 --> 00:15:07.590 align:middle line:90% in a web-based SCADA. 00:15:07.590 --> 00:15:11.610 align:middle line:84% In addition to that, borefield flushing, pressure testing, 00:15:11.610 --> 00:15:13.190 align:middle line:84% getting air out of the system, these 00:15:13.190 --> 00:15:16.450 align:middle line:84% are all steps that we had to take as we turned it on, 00:15:16.450 --> 00:15:19.670 align:middle line:84% as we started the pumps up, and as we added customer loads 00:15:19.670 --> 00:15:22.930 align:middle line:84% to make sure that there wasn't any disruption in service. 00:15:22.930 --> 00:15:26.630 align:middle line:84% Because the last thing that I wanted was to add a customer 00:15:26.630 --> 00:15:28.890 align:middle line:84% and then shut them down immediately, right thereafter 00:15:28.890 --> 00:15:30.890 align:middle line:84% and say, ooh, something's wrong with the system. 00:15:30.890 --> 00:15:31.250 align:middle line:90% Hang on. 00:15:31.250 --> 00:15:33.510 align:middle line:84% Let me address that, and we'll come back in a few days 00:15:33.510 --> 00:15:35.060 align:middle line:90% and turn you back on. 00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:38.060 align:middle line:84% So a lot of work went into making sure 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:41.200 align:middle line:84% that the system was on, stable, free of air, 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:44.070 align:middle line:84% running properly before we could add customer loads. 00:15:44.070 --> 00:15:46.527 align:middle line:90% 00:15:46.527 --> 00:15:48.360 align:middle line:84% And then on the building commissioning side, 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.860 align:middle line:84% once the loop is on and running, now 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:52.060 align:middle line:84% you got to turn the buildings on as well. 00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:55.120 align:middle line:84% So that followed a very similar process. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:57.000 align:middle line:84% But it was about getting the equipment in, 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.960 align:middle line:84% making sure the electrical work was done, 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.475 align:middle line:90% the plumbing work was done. 00:16:00.475 --> 00:16:03.100 align:middle line:84% You then have to pressure test everything on the building side, 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:04.820 align:middle line:84% as well, because the last thing you want 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:08.920 align:middle line:84% is a leak in one of these pipes carrying water and some glycol, 00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:12.700 align:middle line:84% in this case, that's going to flood a basement, flood a room. 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:14.882 align:middle line:84% Again, the perspective there from the customer, 00:16:14.882 --> 00:16:17.340 align:middle line:84% it's not going to be a very good one if you have to come in 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:19.240 align:middle line:84% and say, sorry, I just flooded your basement. 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:22.020 align:middle line:84% I'm going to pump it out, but let me try again. 00:16:22.020 --> 00:16:25.540 align:middle line:84% So a lot of testing, getting the equipment on and running, 00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:27.980 align:middle line:84% and then opening those valves and actually 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:29.780 align:middle line:84% tying it into the main loop and making sure 00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:33.740 align:middle line:84% that it's getting energy from the system. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:36.340 align:middle line:84% One of the challenges that I faced 00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:41.320 align:middle line:84% is, because we were reusing traditional gas contractors, 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:44.900 align:middle line:84% they had a perception around how you should handle valves 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:46.540 align:middle line:90% on this system. 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:48.880 align:middle line:84% In their mind, open valves are good. 00:16:48.880 --> 00:16:50.380 align:middle line:84% You want every valve on the system 00:16:50.380 --> 00:16:52.560 align:middle line:84% open because in a gas system, that's what you do. 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:53.840 align:middle line:90% You open everything up. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.860 align:middle line:90% You've got flow. 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:56.300 align:middle line:90% You're great. 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.900 align:middle line:84% I had to go through that entire system 00:16:57.900 --> 00:17:00.100 align:middle line:84% and check every single bypass valve 00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:04.040 align:middle line:84% that I had because 75% of them were left open. 00:17:04.040 --> 00:17:06.800 align:middle line:84% What that means is, when I turn a customer system on, 00:17:06.800 --> 00:17:08.720 align:middle line:84% they're not exchanging fluid with the loop. 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.780 align:middle line:84% They're exchanging fluid with themselves, 00:17:10.780 --> 00:17:13.079 align:middle line:84% and their systems very quickly cool down. 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.880 align:middle line:90% They shut off. 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:15.020 align:middle line:90% They throw an error. 00:17:15.020 --> 00:17:17.180 align:middle line:84% So it's those types of things in troubleshooting 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:20.460 align:middle line:84% through the commissioning that, the next time around, I'm 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:23.140 align:middle line:84% going to be totally sure every bypass on a system 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:27.140 align:middle line:84% is closed before I turn a customer on. 00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.140 align:middle line:90% So lessons learned. 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.920 align:middle line:90% Procedures and compliance. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:33.010 align:middle line:84% I cannot stress enough how important it is to know what 00:17:33.010 --> 00:17:34.870 align:middle line:90% you're doing before you do it. 00:17:34.870 --> 00:17:36.770 align:middle line:90% Have a documented procedure. 00:17:36.770 --> 00:17:39.330 align:middle line:84% Make sure you check it with your engineering 00:17:39.330 --> 00:17:42.450 align:middle line:84% team, your external engineers, experts in the industry that 00:17:42.450 --> 00:17:43.690 align:middle line:90% have done this before. 00:17:43.690 --> 00:17:44.590 align:middle line:90% Have them look at it. 00:17:44.590 --> 00:17:46.690 align:middle line:84% They're going to have some great feedback. 00:17:46.690 --> 00:17:47.750 align:middle line:90% Valve positioning. 00:17:47.750 --> 00:17:50.770 align:middle line:84% Don't need to harp on it again, but it's very important. 00:17:50.770 --> 00:17:52.350 align:middle line:90% Loop flushing and purging. 00:17:52.350 --> 00:17:55.610 align:middle line:84% The biggest issue that I have seen on our system, 00:17:55.610 --> 00:17:57.850 align:middle line:90% at least, is air. 00:17:57.850 --> 00:17:59.262 align:middle line:90% There's a procedure. 00:17:59.262 --> 00:18:00.470 align:middle line:90% There's a flushing procedure. 00:18:00.470 --> 00:18:02.470 align:middle line:84% But there's always a little bit of entrained air 00:18:02.470 --> 00:18:03.190 align:middle line:90% in these systems. 00:18:03.190 --> 00:18:05.650 align:middle line:84% And so getting it out is extremely important 00:18:05.650 --> 00:18:07.597 align:middle line:84% because it can shut down customer systems. 00:18:07.597 --> 00:18:08.430 align:middle line:90% You got to come out. 00:18:08.430 --> 00:18:09.390 align:middle line:90% It's a trouble call. 00:18:09.390 --> 00:18:10.270 align:middle line:90% You purge the air. 00:18:10.270 --> 00:18:11.970 align:middle line:90% You start them back up. 00:18:11.970 --> 00:18:16.130 align:middle line:84% So definitely a step you don't want to shortcut or miss. 00:18:16.130 --> 00:18:17.430 align:middle line:90% Troubleshooting systems. 00:18:17.430 --> 00:18:20.270 align:middle line:84% Fortunately, as we've gone into operation here, 00:18:20.270 --> 00:18:22.430 align:middle line:84% the problems have decreased dramatically. 00:18:22.430 --> 00:18:24.467 align:middle line:84% We're having less issues, errors, 00:18:24.467 --> 00:18:26.550 align:middle line:84% reasons that we need to go out and address things. 00:18:26.550 --> 00:18:29.920 align:middle line:84% But you always need to be ready to do that, especially at first. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.640 align:middle line:84% And then finally, I threw temporary space conditioning 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.920 align:middle line:84% in here because on the theme of scheduling and having work 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:39.780 align:middle line:84% done simultaneously, the way our project played out, 00:18:39.780 --> 00:18:43.080 align:middle line:84% you didn't necessarily have every single building 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:45.340 align:middle line:84% ready to just be turned on straight away. 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:47.660 align:middle line:84% There was a process for building conversions. 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:50.540 align:middle line:84% So we actually had to have a plan in the schools, 00:18:50.540 --> 00:18:51.228 align:middle line:90% for example. 00:18:51.228 --> 00:18:53.520 align:middle line:84% When we were pulling those rooftop units on and putting 00:18:53.520 --> 00:18:57.037 align:middle line:84% the new ones back, how are we keeping that space conditioned? 00:18:57.037 --> 00:18:58.620 align:middle line:84% Do we have temporary air conditioners? 00:18:58.620 --> 00:18:59.890 align:middle line:90% Do we have temporary heaters? 00:18:59.890 --> 00:19:03.720 align:middle line:84% So all playing into the whole project management and logistics 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:06.360 align:middle line:84% of a system like this and how you actually 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:08.840 align:middle line:90% build it and turn it on. 00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:12.080 align:middle line:84% Going forward, I have a laundry list of things 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:14.780 align:middle line:84% that I'm going to be able to address the next time around 00:19:14.780 --> 00:19:15.640 align:middle line:90% and head off. 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:17.440 align:middle line:84% So with that, hopefully I stayed on time. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.570 align:middle line:84% And we've got a little bit of time here for Q&A. 00:19:19.570 --> 00:19:20.920 align:middle line:90% [APPLAUSE] 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.750 align:middle line:90% MODERATOR: Thank you. 00:19:22.750 --> 00:19:29.000 align:middle line:90%