InFocus
East High Street Elementary Geothermal Project
Why is the district completing this project?
In March 2026, the Elizabethtown Area School District Board of School Directors approved a geothermal heating and cooling project for East High Street Elementary School. The project was selected after a comprehensive evaluation of several options to address the school's aging HVAC system, which has become less efficient, less reliable, and is approaching the end of its expected service life. Once complete, the new geothermal system will improve energy efficiency, enhance classroom comfort, reduce long-term operating costs, and provide a modern, sustainable heating and cooling system designed to serve the school for decades.
What Is a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System?
A geothermal heating and cooling system uses the earth's naturally consistent underground temperature to efficiently heat and cool a building. Water circulates through a series of underground wells, where it exchanges heat with the earth before being used by high-efficiency equipment inside the school to provide comfortable temperatures throughout the year. The result is a reliable, energy-efficient system that helps improve classroom comfort while reducing long-term operating and maintenance costs.
What improvements will students notice?
- More consistent classroom temperatures
- Improved humidity control
- Modern heating and cooling equipment
- Quieter operation
- Improved long-term reliability
Project Benefits
- Reduced energy consumption
- Lower operating costs
- Reduced maintenance
- 50+ year geothermal well field
- Supports long-term facility stewardship
Project Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| March | Board of School Directors approves the East High Street Elementary School geothermal project. |
| May | Construction begins with crews drilling 69 geothermal wells to create the underground geothermal wellfield. |
| June | Interior mechanical work begins, including installation of new HVAC equipment and boilers. |
| July-August | Interior work continues as crews connect the geothermal wellfield to the building's new mechanical systems. |
| August | Parking lot restoration and repaving begins following completion of geothermal well drilling. |
| August | Substantial completion anticipated prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year. |
| October | Final project completion, commissioning, and closeout activities. |
Construction Photo Gallery
Click on the image below for a progress photo slideshow
