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Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/07/26

Key Takeaways

  • Mounds View Public Schools has completed geothermal expansions at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School, with a third project at Pinewood Elementary School expected to finish this summer as part of a districtwide sustainability initiative.
  • The geothermal systems use underground aquifer wells to improve heating and cooling efficiency, eliminate oil tanks, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and enhance long-term building performance while protecting water quality.
  • The three-school initiative is projected to save approximately $165,000 annually in operating costs, with energy savings comparable to the yearly electricity use of about 7,215 single-family homes, making the district a leader in geothermal adoption in Minnesota.

Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance. A third conversion project at Pinewood Elementary School is scheduled for completion this summer.

Geothermal systems take advantage of stable temperatures underground to regulate heating and cooling in buildings. The Mounds View Public Schools project uses underground wells “to safely transfer energy from the aquifer while protecting water quality, supplementing each school’s heating and cooling operations, reducing reliance on conventional systems and improving long-term efficiency,” the news release reports.

The project also involved the removal of oil tanks and transitioning toward cleaner and renewable energy sources. The projected energy savings across all three schools are roughly equivalent to the electricity use of 7,215 single-family homes per year, according to the release.

The initiative at the three schools combined is also projected to generate about $165,000 in operational savings annually.

The district is one of just a few in the state of Minnesota taking advantage of geothermal conversions, and Irondale High School is one of the largest schools in the state to adopt the method.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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