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At North Dakota’s Minot Air Force Base, efficiency is part of the mission

midwesternenergynews.com -- Oil and gas aren’t the only strategic resources buried beneath North Dakota.

Part of the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile supply is stored under constant watch in 15 remote, underground facilities scattered across the state. Until recently, the Air Force had to truck diesel heating fuel to each one of them throughout winter.

Today, those missile facilities are warmed instead with a renewable heat source: the ground.

The missile sites are among a few dozen buildings in North Dakota where the Air Force has installed ground source heat pumps, equipment that takes the constant, relatively warm temperatures found underground and circulates it through buildings.

It’s part of a wide-ranging energy initiative led by Lawrence Johnson, who has become one of the Air Force’s ef

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Submitted Oct 24, 2012 By: teafortwo

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LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,596 Points:1,204,605 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Oct 27, 2012 12:11:41 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Thanks for posting Teafortwo!
melvindale Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,438 Points:351,230 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 10:49:17 AM Ignore melvindale Report Abuse Cool! Makes sense.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,596 Points:1,204,605 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Oct 26, 2012 12:55:10 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse MAC48....Glad you brought up Root Cellars. Underground heat and cool air sources are really not a new thing as you stated. Payback is fairly quick and I am please to hear the AF is using this technology!
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,546 Points:764,970 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 25, 2012 1:47:19 PM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse Ground source heat pump technology has been available to the US consumer since the 1960s but the cost to retrofit an existing home used to be fairly expensive. The optimum time to put a ground source heat pump system in is when the home is being built while the contractor is already at the home site digging the water, sewer, natural gas and possibly the electric service trenches. If a home owner is facing the replacement of the existing heating or cooling unit or both units, a comparison of the cost of replacing the existing unit or units with new equipment versus the installation of a ground source heat pump system bears researching. A ground source heat pump simply uses forced air circulation within pipes or conduit placed under ground where the ground temperature is at a constant 68 or so degrees and supplements that constant underground temperature to get the return air up to a temperature that the user desires using either electric resistance heating or natural gas heating. Our forefathers used ground source cooling to preserve foods for centuries in what was known as root cellars where they stored potatoes, “canned” fruit and vegetables, herbs, smoked meats, etcetera.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,064 Points:1,446,375 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 10:53:29 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Discovery02: US Air Force is a great organization. The military is greatly interested in reducing its dependence of foriegn fossil fuels and outside energy for a very practical reason: our national defense.
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,032 Points:700,180 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 10:46:40 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Interesting
Ply440GTX All-Star Author Texas Posts:949 Points:309,730 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 10:18:24 PM Ignore Ply440GTX Report Abuse Why not Minot?!?!?!?! Freezin's the reason!
Discovery02 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:2,540 Points:308,715 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:46:04 PM Ignore Discovery02 Report Abuse US Air Force is a great organization. Hope that program doesn't get cut with the Sequestration Axe in January!!
hallows Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,693 Points:2,803,645 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:25:42 PM Ignore hallows Report Abuse Sounds like a good thing, now just need to come up with the money!
MopedTime All-Star Author Michigan Posts:765 Points:359,330 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:16:04 PM Ignore MopedTime Report Abuse Wish we could use same technology for our own home. The cost probably is very high initially.
Bald1usa Veteran Author District of Columbia Posts:381 Points:846,300 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:13:50 PM Ignore Bald1usa Report Abuse My neighbor installed one of these systems. Very expensive to install, but said it would pay for itself in less the 5 years. His "heating" and electric bill is down to less the $40 a month during the winter and summer seasons. He also, installed state of the art, solar panels, super insulated, and completely sealed the house.
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:6,073 Points:1,811,300 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:13:12 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse LEAD ON!
carman11 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,332 Points:690,750 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:11:09 PM Ignore carman11 Report Abuse INTERESTING
DeHavilland Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,865 Points:1,902,290 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:09:12 PM Ignore DeHavilland Report Abuse There's hope for us yet.
Gramps001 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,851 Points:1,364,345 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:04:50 PM Ignore Gramps001 Report Abuse I thought military intelligence was an oxy moron...now substitute gov't for military and you got that right!
Ticobird Champion Author Huntsville Posts:3,226 Points:1,115,040 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:03:02 PM Ignore Ticobird Report Abuse Innovation is essential to saving resources.
Brucevanf Champion Author New Brunswick Posts:1,351 Points:243,310 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:02:09 PM Ignore Brucevanf Report Abuse This same source can give cooling in the summer
Brucevanf Champion Author New Brunswick Posts:1,351 Points:243,310 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:01:02 PM Ignore Brucevanf Report Abuse Wow there is actually some Military Intelligence
Rajah Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,565 Points:2,305,815 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 5:00:00 PM Ignore Rajah Report Abuse Geothermal heat pumps are great. Glad to see they're getting with using it in this application.
mechev4020 Veteran Author Miami Posts:305 Points:437,495 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 4:55:35 PM Ignore mechev4020 Report Abuse ok
boatcrazyinme Champion Author Maine Posts:1,923 Points:547,070 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 4:52:43 PM Ignore boatcrazyinme Report Abuse they need to do more of this!
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,250 Points:1,875,635 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 4:29:27 PM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse Somebody is thinking outside of the box.
TopGunn Champion Author Baltimore Posts:9,181 Points:2,614,555 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 3:10:15 PM Ignore TopGunn Report Abuse And the northern snows won't delay heating fuel deliveries.
LtRTH Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,767 Points:583,095 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 3:03:02 PM Ignore LtRTH Report Abuse Well at least our military is trying to do it's part. God bless our military.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,417 Points:1,471,470 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 3:02:59 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse Being self sufficient is a good thing, especially when you are living in a missile silo.
fullauto Champion Author Reading Posts:5,310 Points:1,470,115 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 3:01:51 PM Ignore fullauto Report Abuse geothermal cave cool
ScottTee Champion Author Detroit Posts:4,381 Points:1,061,645 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 3:01:33 PM Ignore ScottTee Report Abuse what is the payback on that investment? or ROI?
slvrdo_dsprdo Champion Author Nashville Posts:4,692 Points:912,040 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:58:33 PM Ignore slvrdo_dsprdo Report Abuse Cool. Or warm, as the case may be.
BobBG All-Star Author Albany Posts:820 Points:809,960 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:57:23 PM Ignore BobBG Report Abuse Fowlcan, The price of gasolie is related to to the energy choices that all of us make including the government. If they were heating these facilities with oil or gas that would reduce the supply available for your ca and mine.
LarksNY Champion Author Albany Posts:1,399 Points:634,415 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:55:20 PM Ignore LarksNY Report Abuse Awesome we save $10 here so we can throw away $100 somewhere else. Seems like logical math and budgeting.
snell snail Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,018 Points:2,597,225 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:55:17 PM Ignore snell snail Report Abuse ...interesting!...relevance?
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:6,481 Points:1,924,475 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:54:53 PM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse That's a cool technology but it's not cheap.
SandeeC Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,988 Points:460,030 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:53:57 PM Ignore SandeeC Report Abuse I've read about people building homes underground or partially underground and how energy efficient they are so this makes perfect sense. And what I like most is that any money saved eventually means money taxpayers save. So good news all around.
gas_nipper Rookie Author Seattle Posts:36 Points:201,120 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:52:25 PM Ignore gas_nipper Report Abuse my parents did this for their home years ago - big cost savings in all seasons!
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:8,909 Points:1,732,085 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:49:34 PM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Good to know.
danol43 Champion Author Modesto Posts:1,697 Points:587,430 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:49:30 PM Ignore danol43 Report Abuse Good idea. Reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
geoutpb Champion Author Midland Odessa Posts:4,618 Points:1,065,335 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:49:20 PM Ignore geoutpb Report Abuse Good technology.
seawolf33 Rookie Author Philadelphia Posts:85 Points:454,920 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:48:10 PM Ignore seawolf33 Report Abuse Smart move by the Airforce
gasmack Champion Author Ventura Posts:1,705 Points:666,550 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:46:30 PM Ignore gasmack Report Abuse Good news from an often overly stiff and inflexible segment of government. Thanks for the post.
joekool1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:1,099 Points:131,280 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:40:33 PM Ignore joekool1 Report Abuse soon they will be forced to close so i guess this is no big deal
MJIOWA Champion Author Iowa Posts:4,818 Points:1,076,970 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:37:54 PM Ignore MJIOWA Report Abuse i like it
DJRIO Champion Author Miami Posts:8,040 Points:1,424,610 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:37:01 PM Ignore DJRIO Report Abuse good
Spankster85 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,719 Points:355,865 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:33:45 PM Ignore Spankster85 Report Abuse Pretty cool and it'll save a little money too.
boldrph Champion Author Topeka Posts:18,366 Points:3,449,690 Joined:Oct 2002	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:32:53 PM Ignore boldrph Report Abuse what? another g'mint boonswaggle?
cbucka Veteran Author Los Angeles Posts:456 Points:419,335 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:30:43 PM Ignore cbucka Report Abuse good info
fowlcan Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,105 Points:683,090 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:23:04 PM Ignore fowlcan Report Abuse How is this related to GAS Prices and this forum?
dbw03 Veteran Author Huntsville Posts:375 Points:353,805 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:22:22 PM Ignore dbw03 Report Abuse Makes sense, after the initial investment you get a lot of years of "relatively free" constant temperature heat source.
hunterruss Rookie Author Michigan Posts:60 Points:503,315 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:20:08 PM Ignore hunterruss Report Abuse About the lowest unemployment rate anywhere.
gasper Champion Author Edmonton Posts:4,480 Points:1,367,335 Joined:Mar 2002	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:19:50 PM Ignore gasper Report Abuse Thermal energy from the ground is not a miracle find it is a technology from many years ago not new idea.
Hugo40 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:7,624 Points:1,616,255 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Oct 24, 2012 2:19:25 PM Ignore Hugo40 Report Abuse Underground has always been warmer.