Geothermal System at Camp Lincoln Cited In National Engineering Competition
Springfield Firm's Innovative Technologies Improve Comfort, Reduce Costs
WASHINGTON, DC – Hanson Professional Services, Inc., of Springfield, Ill., has earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies' (ACEC) 49th annual Engineering Excellence Awards for designing a hybrid geothermal heating and cooling system to serve the headquarters of the Illinois National Guard at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.
The innovative new system replaces an aging conventional heating and cooling system to provide energy-efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable heating and cooling for the 74,000-sq. ft. facility. To be implemented in phases, the system combines a geothermal heat source with a dry cooler, reducing the size and cost of the ground heat exchanger to what is required for heating. A variable-speed drive and control algorithm minimizes the dry cooler's fan energy use.
Engineers expect the energy-saving benefits of the hybrid geothermal system to increase as additional system component assemblies are installed in the future.
The project is among 170 engineering projects throughout the nation and around the world recognized by ACEC as preeminent engineering achievements and eligible for one of the top 2015 Engineering Excellence Awards. Judging for the Engineering Excellence Awards—known industry-wide as the "Academy Awards of the engineering industry"—took place in February and was conducted by a panel of more than 30 engineers, architects, government officials, media members, and academics. Awards criteria include uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, complexity, and success in meeting goals.
Final winners, including 16 Honor Awards, eight Grand Awards and the prestigious "Grand Conceptor Award" for the year's most outstanding overall engineering achievement, will be announced at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, a black-tie event to be held Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America's engineering industry, representing more than 5,000 independent engineering firms and more than 325,000 professionals throughout the United States engaged in the development of America's transportation, water and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial and other public and private facilities.  Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.
Theresia Christanti
American Council of Engineering Companies
Manager, Awards Programs
1015 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DCÂ 20005-2605
Phone: 202-347-7474
Fax: 202-682-4360
E-Mail: tchrist@acec.org
Alan D. Crockett
ACEC
202-682-4301
acrockett@acec.org
Darrel Berry
Hanson Professional Services
217-747-9291
dberry@hanson-inc.com     Â
