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Officials say geothermal will be far more efficient; fuel‑oil tank kept as backup because removal could be costly
Summary
Presenters compared current fuel‑oil boilers (estimated 75–85% efficient) to a geothermal coefficient‑of‑performance around 4 (about 400% effective) and said the in‑ground fuel oil tank will remain as a familiar backup because removing it could create large remediation liabilities.
Technical and financial presenters compared system efficiencies and described the district's approach to risk. The geothermal heat‑pump system was described as having a coefficient of performance (COP) of about 4, which presenters equated to roughly 400% efficiency when compared with aging fuel‑oil boilers that they estimated at 75–85% efficient in practice.
Superintendent Todd Plumeo explained why the district will retain the existing in‑ground fuel‑oil tank as a backup: removing it would create the risk of a soil remediation expense that could amount to "millions of dollars" and would change the project's financial calculus. “If we were to remove it and something were to happen where it broke and it goes into the ground light, that is millions of dollars,” he said.
