Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** buildings contribute about a…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** buildings contribute about a third of global energy consumption and a quarter of CO2 emissions, and heating and cooling constitute approximately 38% of building energy consumption. Emissions associated with electricity use have been decreasing since approximately 2007 due to reductions in emissions from electricity generation; however, emissions associated with direct use of fossil fuels in buildings have increased over this same period. These non-point source emissions are challenging to address. Achieving meaningful and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a critical need of both the public and private sectors. Communities are actively seeking solutions to meet their aggressive GHG reduction goals. Ground source heat pumps (GSHPS) represent the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating and cooling solution currently available for many applications.rural america confronts distinctive challenges and opportunities in the crucial endeavor of decarbonizing building heating and cooling systems. Energy burden, defined as the percentage of household income spent on energy bills, is 33% higher in rural areas than urban areas in the united states. The dispersed nature of rural communities demands adaptable technologies capable of catering to various environmental conditions. These challenges also present opportunities for innovation, as the integration of decentralized renewable energy sources, such as geothermal heat exchange, aligns seamlessly with the natural resources abundant in many rural regions. Decarbonizing building heating and cooling in rural areas not only mitigates environmental impact but also contributes to energy independence, economic revitalization, and enhanced resilience in the face of climate change. Addressing these challenges requires a thoughtful, context-specific approach that recognizes and leverages the unique characteristics of rural americathe overall goals of this project are to perform research that will further advance the darcy solutions geothermal submerged closed loop heat exchanger system. We will develop innovative new borehole characterization methodologies to optimize the design and installation of our innovative techology. We will develop a new heat exchanger that will significantlyt increase the amount of thermal exchange that can be achieved in a single borehole. We will also map the rural communities best suited to benefit from our innovative renewable energy heating and cooling technology. This project closely aligns with the USDA program goals to address climate change and promote climate-resiliency in rural america, while also providing economic benefits through greater energy independence and reduced costs.