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When it came time to replace the half-century-old heating and air conditioning system in Lac qui Parle County’s red-brick, Romanesque-style courthouse, built in 1899, there were two options. The county could put in a newer version of the same natural gas-powered system it already had, for around $600,000. Or it could install a more environmentally-friendly and cost-saving geothermal system for $950,000.

“The mechanical system was starting to show some signs of wear, where we had maintenance issues,” said county auditor, treasurer and coordinator Jake Sieg. “We knew we would have to do something with it. We looked at different options.” In a sparse, rural place like Lac qui Parle County, which hugs the western Minnesota border and is home to just 7,000 people, these kinds of big expenditures get an extra careful look.

The same methodical consideration takes place in small cities and counties around the state, yet many have found ways to move forward with green-energy projects, whether solar power in Royalton or biomass heat in Franklin. See our

In the case of Lac qui Parle County, a $100,000 federal stimulus grant made the difference, pushing the needle toward geothermal. The new system went online a year ago and though it doesn't provide all the building's heat (a portion comes from two new gas boilers), Sieg estimates the county will save $16,000 annually in energy costs. He thinks the higher upfront expenditure will be repaid in seven to eight years. “Without the grant I think it would have been a lot harder decision to make,” Sieg said.

A geothermal system runs liquid through pipes underground to naturally cool or heat it to between 50 and 60 degrees. The liquid is then pumped back into the building, where it provides heat or air conditioning.

The system has made the courthouse, located in Madison, more efficient overall. Sieg said there are 15 separate pumps now, each assigned to a zone of the building, which allows for more tailored heating and cooling. “We noticed an immediate reduction in the utility bills,” he said.

Saving money was the number one concern, but reducing carbon was a factor, too. Plus, the geothermal system plugged fairly seamlessly into an existing duct system, minimizing disturbances to the historic courthouse.

"We had to do something and this was the best choice,” said Sieg. He said the county is happy to be less reliant on outside energy. “Natural gas… and electricity… are fuel sources that must be delivered by outside providers.  As such, the costs of those sources are subject to market pressures and other factors that create volatility.  The energy we get from the ground is free, and so the market volatility risk is eliminated.”

Sieg said the project has opened the door to looking at other new energy projects, possibly a solar installation at the courthouse for supplemental electricity. “It would be nice to get one of those fancy energy star certifications,” he said. “That is something we would be proud of.”

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In the Lac qui Parle County courthouse, in far western Minnesota, a geothermal heating and cooling system saves the county money.

Lac qui Parle County heats courthouse with geothermal

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