Squaw Valley Gets Rebate for New Power System

Squaw Valley Ski Corp. is celebrating thanks to a $2400 rebate from Sierra Pacific Power for installing an energy efficient heating source at the SquawKids Children's Center.

The power company is offering rebates to homeowners or businesses which install systems that reduce their load.

Squaw Valley has installed a "ground source heat pump system" which gathers heat from the ground by pumping a special liquid through loops of pipes underground. Inside the building, the thermodynamic process used for air conditioning, and a heat exchanger create up to 130 degrees of heat, which is then circulated through the floor of the Children's Center building.

"The load reduction will be 20kw, or the equivalent of 20 hairdryers or six to eight houses" commented Hardy Herger, Squaw Valley's technical director of engineering.

"We are doing this with alot of other facilities." said Hans Burkhart, Squaw Valley's General Manager. "This has alot to do with the top of the mountain. The heat pump system is the future solution to the heating system on the top where we have limited access."

The system was chosen for Children's Center both as a environmental and a safety measure. It offers a much safer environment than the option of propane, especially with the number of children using the facility.

Squaw Valley also uses this type of system to heat the Funitel's lower terminal.