April 22, 2025

This Earth Day 🌍, April 22nd, we’re celebrating right here at Plummer Youth Promise—because caring for the planet starts at home!  Recently, we just celebrated our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of our brand-new residential building for youth in the foster care system. A new, trauma-informed facility that honors the dignity and privacy of the youth and families we serve.

One of the most exciting, unique features of our new facility is the way it’s powered by eco-friendly energy! We are proud to play a role in creating a healthier, more sustainable future. The new facility will be powered by an underground network of geothermal systems which tap into the power of renewable energy without using expensive fossil fuels that pollute the air we breathe.

Our new geothermal system will provide 100% of the heating, cooling, and hot water. The geothermal pump house is located right next to the driveway leading to the Plummer Home. Originally, this location was used as a storage shed to keep the youth’s bikes and other sporting equipment safe. Thanks to our partners at Groom Construction, our new building will have increased storage capacity to keep the youth’s belongings safely secured and the original shed has been converted into a housing unit to store the geothermal wells.

We have proudly partnered with a local partner in Salem, Achieve Renewable Energy, to help us install the Ground Heat Exchanger (GHEX) underground pumps for our energy-efficient heating and cooling system. The GHEX piping has been configured to run underneath our parking area and directly beneath our new building. Our geothermal system requires no equipment outside or on top of the Plummer Buildings. This way our new building’s beautiful architecture and views are not disrupted by HVAC compressors, piping, or ducting. The geothermal system has an estimated service life of 100 years and the cost of operation can be up to 70% lower than traditional fossil fuel operating cost.

Here’s some fun facts about our new Geothermal System:

🔥❄️ Geothermal Fun Facts ❄️🔥

1. The Earth is a giant thermal battery.

Just a few feet below the surface, the ground stays at a consistent 50–60°F (10–16°C) year-round—cooler than the air in summer, and warmer in winter.

2. Geothermal systems don’t “create” heat—they move it.

Like a refrigerator in reverse, geothermal systems use this steady underground temperature to transfer heat in and out of buildings. That makes them 3 to 5 times more efficient than traditional heating and cooling systems.

3. Almost 50 wells, each over 300 feet deep!

This campus has an underground network of nearly 50 geothermal wells—deeper than the Statue of Liberty is tall! These wells quietly power heating and cooling across the entire building.

4. No noisy outdoor units.

Geothermal systems are ultra-quiet, with no external compressors or fans. The equipment is tucked underground and in the pump house—so the campus remains peaceful and distraction-free for youth!

5. Geothermal = serious savings.

Over time, our geothermal system is expected to save around $7 million in operating and maintenance costs compared to a standard system.

6. It’s a clean, green machine.

The geothermal systems have no on-site greenhouse gas emissions for heating or cooling. The equipment operates on electricity and, if the electricity is from a ‘green’ source like solar or wind, the heating and cooling will have a Zero Carbon Footprint. This drastically reduces our carbon footprint and, when paired with solar energy (like we’ve done here!), it brings us even closer to being energy self-sufficient!

7.It works in any weather.

Rain, snow, sweltering heat—it doesn’t matter. Because it draws from the earth’s stable underground temperature, geothermal keeps the building consistently comfortable no matter the season.

A renewable energy source for heating and cooling will not only save on operating costs, but will also help reinforce our commitment to eco-conscious solutions that sustain the environment. This Earth Day we thank our collaborating partners, Groom Construction and Achieve Renewable Energy, in helping us invest in a future-forward system!