Charrette: a meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions.
Decarbonizing the way we heat and cool our buildings is essential to a stable climate and a zero-emissions future.
HEET has designed a method for gas utilities to deliver renewable, non-emitting and non-combusting heating and cooling. This technology, known as networked geothermal, consists of pipes filled with water that are installed in the street and connected to ground source heat pumps in buildings. The system can be installed and operated by existing gas utilities, providing a way forward for a transition off natural gas and for states and municipalities to meet emission reduction mandates.
Increasingly, utilities and energy advocates across the U.S. and internationally are considering networked geothermal as a viable electrification pathway, business model and alternative to fossil fuels. In Massachusetts, six networked geothermal demonstration projects have been approved for installation and are moving forward.
HEET convenes charrettes to work together across diverse perspectives and backgrounds, generate ideas and anticipate barriers in scaling networked geothermal systems. In this way, we can move towards a just energy transition—one with clean, safe and accessible energy, low customer bills and good jobs—as rapidly, wisely and justly as possible.
The over 170 stakeholders at our recent charrettes have included utility executives, regulators, labor representatives, community organizations, advocates, legislators, geothermal designers and installers, and heat pump installers and manufacturers. We’ve welcomed participants from 17 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Netherlands.
Charrette Reports
After each charrette, we create a report to share with Eversource Gas, state regulators, charrette participants and others. Take a look here:
- Site Selection Charrette Report and Site Selection Checklist, January 2021
- Data Collection Charrette Report, February 2021
- Community Outreach Charrette Report, March 2021
- Building Retrofits Charrette Report, April 2021
- Case Studies and Design Decisions Charrette Report, May 2021
- Workforce Charrette Report, June 2021
- Community Site Review Charrette Report, August 2021
- Legislation and Regulation Charrette Report, September 2021
- Growing Networked Geothermal Charrette Report, November 2021