W. H. Demmons, Inc. has been involved in Geothermal Projects since 1992 when we did our first project at Catholic Charities in downtown Portland. This first project was a three-story 22,000 ft² building that serves as a community center, offering counseling, offices, a library, activity spaces, and a full commercial kitchen and dining area.

This project, like many of our designs, is known for its efficient use of energy (e.g. this building's energy costs were 40% that of similar buildings), through the installation of its "state of the art HVAC system" and its superior IAQ (Indoor Air Quality). It is still in service today and maintained by our HVAC Maine Air Service division.

Since our first geothermal design in 1992, W.H. Demmons Inc. has been one of the leading Geothermal Design Build Contractors in New England, and the leader in Maine. Our team, lead by Douglas Martin, P.E., has been involved in numerous geothermal projects in Maine totaling more than 250,000 ft² including office buildings, inns, banks, classrooms, lecture halls, as well as the Maine Audubon Society building in Falmouth.

Recent notable projects include:

Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield - A 24,000 ft² Math and Science building, commissioned in 2001
Merriconeag Waldorf School, Freeport - A 7,000 ft² Early Child Center building, commissioned in 2003
United States Customs House, Portland - A 20,000 ft² Government Office building, commissioned in 2003
University of Southern Maine, Portland - A 33,000 ft² Classroom and Lecture Hall building, commissioned in 2005
Colby College Alumni Center, Waterville - A 30,000 ft² building, commissioned in 2005
Saco & Biddeford Savings Institute, Biddeford - A 4,000 ft² Savings Bank building, commissioned in 2006
York County Courthouse, Alfred - An Historic 45,000 ft² County Office and Court Room, commissioned in 2007

Our design package incorporates energy efficient design, minimum cost, and improved IAQ. We offer a full design/build/maintain approach to construction starting with our licensed engineers. It is important with these projects to start early with the well design and drilling. A typical well maybe 1,500 ft deep, but each project is always a little different. Understanding the best way possible to utilize ground water to economize and to transfer energy from the earth to the building is the key to success in operating costs and first cost. From this starting point we can move forward with the rest of the design.

We invite you to arrange a visit W.H. Demmons’ offices on 93 Warren Ave. in Portland , Maine which has been operating as a Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems since 1995. Please contact Doug Martin to arrange an inspection.

In the winter,

warm water is pumped from the aquifer.

Heat from the ground water

is extracted via heat pumps,

and used to warm the building.

The ground water, now cooled,

it is returned to the aquifer.

Conversely, in the summer,

the ground water

is used to cool the building,

Pumping warmer water into the

aquifer creates a "flywheel" effect,

making the heating/cooling system

more efficient over time.