Heating & Cooling Northampton
High School
Efficient and Clean Energy Just Beneath Our Feet
We're replacing aging heating and cooling equipment with a geothermal system that will save energy, cut carbon emissions, and lower long-term costs for the City of Northampton — for decades to come.
*This website is owned and managed by Brightcore Energy for the purpose of providing information to the Northampton community. It is not affiliated with the City of Northampton.
About the Project
The Challenge: End-of-Useful Life HVAC Equipment
Northampton High School is one of the City's largest and most energy-intensive buildings. For years, it has been heated by fossil-fuel boilers and cooled by a chiller system — equipment that is reaching the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.
Rather than replacing old equipment with similar technology, the City of Northampton is taking this moment to leap forward — choosing a geothermal ground source heat pump (GSHP) system that is more efficient, cleaner, and built to last.
This is a significant clean energy upgrade Northampton is pioneering for a public building. When complete, it will support the City's goals of achieving carbon neutrality for municipal operations by 2030 and net-zero emissions citywide by 2050.
What We're Achieving
Project Timeline
From initial bore testing to long-term performance monitoring, the Northampton High School geothermal project is being executed in structured phases, each one building toward a system designed to serve the school and the city for decades.
Test Well Driling
We drilled a single 850-foot test borehole to measure underground rock properties and confirm our drilling approach. This data is now feeding directly into the full system design. The test borehole will be incorporated into the final system, saving the City costs.
Investment Grade Audit & Design
Our engineering team, including Brightcore Energy and mechanical partner OLA Consulting Engineers, is developing the full system design, energy baseline, and savings analysis. This phase produces construction-ready documents and a formal Guaranteed Savings Framework.
Mobilization & Site Preparation
Moving and staging of equipment, tools, and ancillary items to begin construction.
Geothermal Construction
Drilling of the full borefield, lateral piping installation, heat pump equipment installation, and site restoration.
Estimated Completion: Q1 2027
Mechanical Installation
Once all geothermal piping (boreholes and laterals) is installed, work will commence on tying the geothermal system into the HVAC components.
Estimated Completion: Q1-2 2027
Commissioning & Startup
Testing of the geothermal and mechanical system to ensure the operations and staff receive the appropriate training. O&M platform goes live.
Estimated Completion: Q2-3 2027
Operations & Monitoring
Annual measurement and verification reports confirm savings. O&M platform monitors performance 24/7. Brightcore provides quarterly updates to the city for the next 10 years.
Project Traffic Routing
Project FAQs
How deep are the boreholes?
The boreholes at Northampton High School will be drilled to approximately 850 feet deep — about the height of a 75-story building. They are narrow (about 6 inches in diameter) and will be drilled at an angle (inclined) to maximize capacity in the available parking lot space.
Why geothermal and not solar?
The school needs replacement of its heating and cooling system currently provided by aging gas boilers and electric chillers. The new geothermal system uses electricity very efficiently for heating and cooling, making it the first step to electrifying the school. This allows rooftop solar to be added in the future to power the ground source heat pumps instead of the grid to provide a cleaner source of electricity.
What will construction look like?
You will see two or more drill rigs, along with supporting equipment, such as containers, mini skid steer and excavator, a water management system, and pipes across the parking lot area. The work area will be fully surrounded by a construction fence to maintain safety at all times.
How loud will drilling be?
To help minimize noise impact, each drill rig's compressor will be equipped with sound blankets, which are heavy-duty acoustic panels designed to absorb and reduce noise. All construction activities will be conducted in accordance with the City of Northampton's permitted noise ordinance hours.
Will school operations be disrupted during construction?
Construction will be carefully coordinated with school administration to enable the high school to function normally. All work is contained to a single section of the parking lot, the point farthest from classrooms.
How will this affect school bus route and drop off/pickup?
School buses and vehicles will have to follow noted traffic flow and might expect extra time to drop off and pickup. We will coordinate with the school on alternative nearby locations with safe foot traffic to efficiently get to and from the school.
How can students travel to and from the parking lot?
Along with bus coordination, people and signage will help students travel safely from their transportation drop off to school. Safety is our priority during construction operations, and we will work diligently to make sure the pathways are clear.
Will there be water on the ground?
Yes, water from a fire hydrant is used during drilling to control dust and rinse away soil. This water will stay inside the fenced construction area and will be carefully managed, so it does not spill outside the work zone.
How will this impact the neighborhood surrounding the school?
The selected contractor will work with the city on coordinating bus routes, adding traffic signage, managing foot traffic and taking other measures to minimize impacts on traffic flow around the school and greater neighborhood. As with any construction project, there will be noise associated with the installation of the borefield. The portion of main parking lot furthest from adjacent members of the community was selected to help minimize this impact. In addition, the selected contractor will deploy sound blankets to further mitigate noise. All physical construction work is contained to the parking lot and high school area.
How will deliveries of site materials be handled?
Deliveries will be scheduled during off-peak times to help to alleviate congestion with school pick-up and drop-off times. Typical deliveries will exit from route 91 to route 5 or Pleasant Street. Deliveries will then proceed onto route 9 or Elm Street. From Elm Street, deliveries will proceed to Milton Street and turn into the field gate adjacent to the parking lot.
What will the finished project look like?
After drilling and installation of the underground pipes, the parking lot will be restored to its original or even better condition to revert back to its function. All mechanical work will be in a separate room behind the high school that is out of way of pedestrians.
The Solution: A Ground Source Heat Pump System
A ground source heat pump (GSHP) system, also called a geothermal system, uses the stable temperature deep underground to heat buildings in winter and cool them in summer. Instead of burning fuel to generate heat, it moves heat — which takes far less energy.
For Northampton High School, this means:
-
Reliable heating and cooling that performs consistently, year after year.
- Dramatically lower energy use compared to the existing system.
- Significantly reduced carbon emissions — a key step toward the City's climate goals.
- A 10-year guarantee on energy savings, backed by us.
Aligned with Northampton's Climate Vision
The City of Northampton has set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality for municipal operations by 2030 and net-zero emissions citywide by 2050. Decarbonizing the High School — one of the largest sources of municipal energy use — is critical to reaching those targets.
By choosing geothermal, the City is investing not just in a building, but in a cleaner, healthier future for students, staff, families, and all Northampton residents.
Guaranteed System Performance and Operation
Brightcore Energy, via a decade-long contract, guarantees that the new system will operate as designed to provide reliable and efficient heating and cooling year-round.
Through a monitoring platform we can track the system performance in real time and any estimated energy savings from switching to a new system during the 10-year guarantee period.
What is Geothermal HVAC?
Deep underground, the temperature of the earth stays nearly constant all year long — somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit in Western Massachusetts. That's warm enough to heat a building in winter and cool enough to cool one in summer.
Geothermal systems take advantage of this by circulating water through a loop of pipes buried in the ground. In winter, that water absorbs heat from the earth and brings it into the building. In summer, it works in reverse — pulling heat out of the building and sending it back underground. A heat pump inside the building helps amplify this process, delivering comfortable temperatures with far less energy than traditional heating and cooling systems.
How Is It Built?
Step 1: Drilling Boreholes
The first step is drilling a series of boreholes — deep, narrow holes — into the ground near the school. At Northampton High School, these boreholes will be drilled in one parking lot section, reaching depths of up to 850 feet. Brightcore Energy uses specially designed drilling rigs and inclined (angled) boreholes to make the most of the available space.
Step 2: Installing Ground Loops
Inside each borehole, a loop of high-density polyethylene pipe (the kind used for gas lines) is installed and filled with a water-based fluid. These loops are connected together and run underground back to the school building.
Step 3: Heat Pumps Connect to the Building
Inside (or just outside) the school, heat pump equipment connects to those underground loops and to the school's existing heating and cooling distribution system. The heat pumps use electricity — just a small amount — to move heat to or from the ground as needed. Because they move heat rather than create it, they are three to five times more efficient than conventional heating equipment.
Step 4: Smart Monitoring
Once the system is up and running, Brightcore's EDGE™ platform monitors it around the clock. This means any issue is caught early, and the system is continually tuned to perform at its best.
Northampton Geothermal Facts
50–60°F
75
850ft
3-5x
New Haven Arkose
75+
Building a Better Future Together
The Northampton High School Geothermal Project delivers real, lasting benefits — enhancing student and faculty comfort, lowering energy bills, and serving as a cornerstone for supporting the City’s decarb efforts.
Environmental Benefits
A Major Step Toward Carbon Neutrality
Northampton has committed to achieving carbon neutrality for municipal operations by 2030. The High School is one of the City's largest municipal buildings and one of its biggest energy users. Converting its heating and cooling to geothermal will produce a significant reduction in the City's greenhouse gas emissions.
Geothermal systems like this one reduce the need to burn natural gas or oil for heating. Instead of producing carbon emissions on-site, the system runs primarily on electricity — and as Northampton's electric grid becomes cleaner over time, the system's carbon footprint will shrink further, automatically.
- Significantly lowers on-site fossil fuel combustion for heating.
- Dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the school's operations.
- Helps Northampton meet its 2030 municipal carbon neutrality goal.
- Supports the citywide net-zero emissions target by 2050 as mandated by the State.
Financial Benefits
Guaranteed Savings, Every Year
Geothermal systems generally cost more to install than conventional systems, but they cost significantly less to operate because of the high efficiency of using the ground temperature instead of outdoor air.
With lower energy bills, Northampton High School will reduce its spending on energy for HVAC and improve the operation of the building. Brightcore Energy also stays involved after construction to ensure the system operates within the designed efficiency over the next 10 years.
If the system performs below the guaranteed level in any year, Brightcore pays the city the difference.
- The system is projected to reduce 45% of total site energy use.
- 10-year savings and system performance guarantee.
- Eligibility for Massachusetts MassSave utility incentives and federal Investment Tax Credits.
Community & Social Benefits
A Healthier School Environment
The new system will provide more consistent, reliable heating and cooling throughout the school building. Students, teachers, and staff will benefit from a more comfortable environment — especially during summer school sessions and the increasing number of hot days as the climate changes.
A More Resilient Building
Choosing geothermal over conventional replacement sends a clear message as it is an investment in the community, buildings, and future. This project supports the City's broader reputation as a leader in sustainability and facilities management.
Supporting Northampton's Climate Goals
| City Goal | How This Project Helps | Target Year |
| Carbon neutrality - municipal operations | Eliminate fossil fuel use for heating & cooling at NHS | 2030 |
| Net-zero emissions - citywide | Reduces overall city emissions; supports electrification strategy | 2050 |
| Efficient public buildings | 10-year performance guarantee ensures verified savings | Ongoing |
| Town stewardship | Example for other Massachusetts municipalities | Immediate |
For further information, please contact us via the form.
If you'd like to email us, please do so at:
northampton@brightcoreenergy.com