The Army expects a $63 million geothermal project at Fort Sill could lower energy costs at the Southern Oklahoma military post by nearly 60%.
It involves geothermal heat pumps installed in more than 1,700 homes as part of one of the country’s largest military housing upgrades — a move expected to deliver millions in annual savings. The Fort Sill project is the third military base and post to roll out geothermal pumps for its family homes.
The project and its anticipated savings were the highlight of a June event in Oklahoma City where Corvias, the firm that operates and manages housing for service members and their families through partnerships with the U.S. Army and Department of Defense as part of the military housing privatization initiative, brought congressional representatives and dozens of Army leaders. Covias showcased the project that involves high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling, smart thermostats, new hot water systems and advanced controls.
The tour took place at ClimateMaster manufacturing in Oklahoma City. The company supplies the geothermal equipment as Corvias works in partnership with Ameresco, as ACHR News reported.
A report by TCD indicated ClimateMaster said the overhaul could reduce energy use across the housing community by about 57%, resulting in more than $5 million in annual savings. The project also makes Fort Sill the third military installation where Ameresco, Corvias, and ClimateMaster have worked together on a major residential geothermal effort.
“As we leverage advanced technologies and partnerships to build a more resilient Fort Sill, it is essential for our collective teams to be synchronized through this process to rapidly deliver the enhanced homes our military families deserve and to generate critical savings that can be reinvested back into Fort Sill and our people,” said U.S. Army Col. John Morgan, Fort Sill garrison commander.
The project would allow military families to experience indoor temperatures in summer and winter with updated controls designed to make day-to-day comfort easier to manage. ClimateMaster contends the geothermal heat pumps can use 40% to 70% less energy than conventional HVAC systems and might also cut down on maintenance needs.
