Geothermal Heating District

Geothermal Heating in Boise 

Administered by the Boise Public Works Department, the largest direct use system in the United States supplies energy-efficient heat to over 55 businesses in the downtown core area. Direct use systems not only provide heat to buildings, but also provide hot water for recreation (developed hot springs resorts), greenhouses (heating), and aquaculture (raising warm-water fish and aquatic plants).

After a recent upgrade to the City's geothermal system, the city of Boise now injects 100% of the water back into the aquifer. 100-percent injection was made possible by constructing a supply pipeline behind several businesses on River Street. Completion of the supply line provides an estimated additional 20-million gallons of water for proposed future projects, such as possible expansion onto the Boise State University campus. The water savings is enough to heat 500,000 square feet of buildings per year.

Currently, four independent heating districts operate geothermal systems within Boise. The Boise Public Works Department operates and collects fees for the system that serves the downtown core area. The State of Idaho operates the system that heats the Idaho State Capitol and several other buildings with in the Capitol Mall area. The Veterans Administration (VA) provides service to the VA campus, and the Boise Warm Springs Water District provides service to the residential properties in the vicinity of Warm Springs Avenue.

Energy Savings

Whether you are looking to enhance the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating or your building or simply want to save energy and money, connecting to the city of Boise geothermal system is a smart way to use a renewable resource. Contact Boise Public Works Department for more information. For information on residential usage in the Warm Springs Avenue area, contact the Boise Warm Springs Water District at 342-3162.