Kai Luginbuhl – News and Associate Editor

If you have been walking on campus in the past few weeks, you have most likely noticed the construction taking place on Abbott Field. Excavators are piling considerable amounts of dirt and grass, with temporary fencing circling the area. Despite rumours from hopeful students, this project is not a new parking lot. However, the project is essential to Bishops’ sustainable infrastructure, which was introduced on campus in 2008.

Photo courtesy of UBishops

According to Buildings and Grounds, the construction is a necessary project to maintain Bishop’s sustainable campus-wide energy loop. The energy loop has different components providing energy, such as heat recovery from our Sports Complex, heat recovery from the Johnson building, aerothermal providing heat and chilled water and our Geothermal system.

Bishop’s installed 57 geothermal wells beneath Abbott Field in 2008, making it the first district energy system in Canada to use a low-temperature loop. Geothermal wells take advantage of the consistent temperature at their drilled depth of 160m. During the summer, the closed-loop system provides cooling, while in the winter it supports heating. The initial installation of this system was essential to Bishop’s emission goals at the time, with the system saving “2,364 tons of CO2, equivalent of 1,400 cars, a 66% reduction,” as stated in their 2013 document, “Campus-Wide District Heating & Cooling System.” The once-revolutionary project has now been a staple at Bishop’s for the past 17 years and is a bright spot in Bishops’ eco-friendly infrastructure.

Over the years, some of these wells have experienced grout depletion and require restoration. Grout is the cement mixture commonly used in this kind of infrastructure; it is effective at both waterproofing and heatproofing the pipes used in closed-loop geothermal wells. Grout depletion can be a result of moisture, expansion and contraction of earth, or soil absorption. If not properly dealt with, it can lead to inefficiencies in the system. According to a source from Buildings and Grounds, “Over time, some of the wells have experienced grout depletion, which can lead to soil infiltration and compromise their efficiency. To address this, we are undertaking a maintenance operation to refill the grout and properly cap the wells, ensuring their long-term performance.”

If you have questions about the ongoing construction, contact Buildings and Grounds at b&g@UBishops.ca. If you have any safety concerns, direct them to the Bishop’s security team.