New Mexico Tech going deep for heating system

In New Mexico, drilling crews completed a 1,100-foot exploratory well at the base of “M” Mountain. And while they are looking for geothermal resources, the intent here is only to heat buildings – in fact all of the buildings on New Mexico Tech’s main campus. Researchers hoped to find fluid at at least 160°F, but came up only with temperatures of 107°F. The project now will employ heat pumps, and while this will add an estimated $300,000 per year in electricty costs, it is anticipated that taxpayers will still save upwards of $500,000 per year in natural gas costs. The project is expected to pay for itself in ten years.