Exploring Networked Geothermal in Newton

Looking for Climate Solutions at Community Scale

We’re also exploring networked geothermal – not as a replacement for heat pumps, but as another tool that could help Newton eliminate fossil fuels at community scale. Networked geothermal is established technology that’s been successfully used in new developments and planned communities. The frontier question is: can it work in existing neighborhoods with older housing stock? And if so, where in Newton does it make technical and financial sense?

We’re exploring this because if we can crack the retrofit challenge, networked geothermal has potential to serve multiple buildings from shared infrastructure rather than requiring individual home-by-home solutions.

What Is Networked Geothermal?

Instead of each building having its own heating and cooling system, networked geothermal connects multiple buildings to a shared underground loop system. This network of pipes exchanges heat with the stable temperatures found deep underground.

The system works especially well when buildings use energy at different times. When some buildings need heating and others need cooling, the network can transfer heat between them, making the whole system more efficient. Think of a school that needs cooling during the day while nearby homes need heating — they can share and balance their energy needs through the network.

It’s Working in Framingham

Framingham is proving that networked geothermal can work in existing Massachusetts neighborhoods, not just new construction.

Their pilot project, which became operational in June 2024, connects 36 buildings – 24 homes plus a fire station, community college buildings, and other facilities. About 125 customer accounts are now served by the network.

The results so far:

• Customers pay just $10 per month to access the geothermal network
• Participants are projected to see roughly 20% lower monthly energy bills
• Carbon emissions are estimated to decrease by 60%
• The project is already being expanded based on early success
• The U.S. Department of Energy invested $7.8 million in the expansion

This is the nation’s first utility-scale networked geothermal system, and it’s demonstrating that the technology can be retrofitted into established neighborhoods.  See more information about the Framingham pilot.

Could It Work in Newton? We’re Exploring the Countryside Elementary School Area

We’ve identified a promising opportunity in the Countryside Elementary School neighborhood. The school is being rebuilt with a geothermal system that is designed with the technical capacity to be networked with surrounding buildings.

Why this location makes sense

Schools and homes use heating and cooling at different times. During the school day, when the building might need cooling, nearby homes might need heating. This load balancing is exactly what makes networked geothermal efficient.

What we’re trying to determine

Is there enough interest, and do the technical and financial pieces work for homes in this neighborhood?

Here’s how it would work:

1. We gather expressions of interest from homeowners in the Countryside area – ideally 50 homes, with clusters of homes that are adjacent to each other
2. Interested homeowners receive home visits from Green Newton Volunteers to collect technical data about their properties
3. Green Newton shares this data with private operators and utilities
4. The companies evaluate whether there are technically and financially feasible options for the neighborhood
5. If viable, the company would make proposals to participating residents

Current status

Over 30 households have already participated in home visits. Interested in joining them? Let us know by completing the survey. If you live near Countryside Elementary School, we’ll follow up to schedule your home visit. If you live in another part of Newton, we’ll reach out when we identify a potential site in your neighborhood.

Tell Us You’re Interested

Do you live near Countryside Elementary School?

If you’re interested in exploring whether networked geothermal could work for your home, please fill out our expression of interest survey. There’s no commitment – we’re gathering information to understand if there’s enough interest and the right technical conditions to move forward.

Live in another part of Newton?

We still want to hear from you! If we evaluate another neighborhood in the future, we’ll know you’re interested and can reach out when we’re exploring opportunities in your area.