The article touches on a number of topics, including the role of ground source heat pumps in the U.S., the state of the geothermal heat pump industry, and the importance of the Ball State Geothermal Project to the future development of geothermal technology.

According the Williams, “In 1993, the EPA call geothermal  “the most efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective space conditioning system today.” While the technology has been known for decades, the size of the Ball State project proves that geothermal installers and designers are gaining confidence to implement the technology on a massive scale and are winning the trust of risk-averse property owners.”

But the most interesting thing we discovered from the article was The Information Survival Kit for the Prospective Geothermal Heat Pump Owner, written by Kevin Rafferty, P.E., and distributed by the HeatSpring Learning Institute. This comprehensive, informative, 32 page guide is a must-have for any home owner seriously considering installing a geothermal heat pump. It explains in detail:

• How geothermal works and its various use options, including water heating and snow melting
• Differences between various geothermal systems
• Pros and cons of ground loop layout options
• How to calculate the size and type system needed based on Heating Degree Days (HDD)
• Equipment and installation costs
• How to calculate approximate operating cost savings:
  For example, in Indianapolis, with an HDD rating of between 5,000 and 6,000, annual space heating for an average 2,200 sq. ft. home, based on fuel source, would cost (approx.):

• Propane – $1,440
• Fuel Oil – $1,460
• Natural Gas – $750
• Ground-source heat pump – $330

It doesn’t take an Einstein to do this math. At a saving of more than $1,000 a year, the additional cost to install a geothermal heat pump should be offset in a few years. After that, it’s all gravy; you get to put those savings in your bank account, not the utility company’s.

Download the free “Geothermal Survival Kit” (Printer-friendly PDF opens in new window)

And don’t forget the 30% Federal tax rebate on the purchase of a qualified ENERGY STAR-rated heat pump.

Visit the Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning website for more information about geothermal heating and cooling systems. For a free in-home evaluation of your existing furnace and the benefits of a new geothermal heat pump, call 317-639-1111 to schedule an appointment.

But if you want to save even more money, consider going “Geothermal.” A geothermal heating and cooling system is just about as energy-efficient and eco-friendly as is possible with today’s technology, while staying cost-effective in the long-run.

A geothermal heat pump system uses a series of tubes buried in the ground to heat and cool your home.

The cost of the electricity to run the system should be about one-third of the cost of heating fuel it replaces.

New technologies, including advanced “small footprint” tube installation procedures, make the use of geothermal a viable option for more Indianapolis-area homeowners than ever.

As an added incentive, homeowners who install a ENERGY STAR qualified geothermal heat pump in 2012 are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit on the total cost, with no upper limit. Visit the ENERGY STAR website to learn more.

A great illustration of how geothermal technology is starting to more widely used is right in our backyard.  Ball State University is currently installing the largest ground source heat pump in the U.S., if not the world.

According to Tom Kinghorn, Ball State’s vice president of business affairs and treasurer, taking the current coal boilers offline will save the university $2 million a year when the project is completed, eliminating almost all of its $3 million annual fuel bill, but costing about $1 million a year in electricity to run.

Just as important, even after considering its increased demand for electricity for the new system, the university’s net carbon footprint will be cut approximately in half. It will also eradicate almost all of its $3 million annual fuel bill, but will cost about $1 million a year in electricity to run.

All in all, a pretty good deal, if you ask us. For a closer look at Ball State’s geothermal project, read the NY Times “Green” Blog article, Finding Energy Advantages Six Feet Under.

Visit the Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning website for more information about geothermal heating and cooling systems. For a free in-home evaluation of your existing furnace and the benefits of a new geothermal heat pump, call 317-639-1111 to schedule an appointment.

That meant that as much as 40 cents of every dollar you spent to heat your home went up in smoke, that almost half of the gas, oil, or electricity used was wasted. How times have changed! With today’s economic and environmental concerns, those figures are almost unthinkable.

Advances in technology, along with changes in governmental requirements, mean that today’s home furnaces are rated at least 78% efficient, with “high-efficiency” models rated at 90% or higher. Top-of-the-line furnaces, like Rheem’s RGRK, RGRL, and RGTK Classic® Series gas furnaces have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 95%, making them up to 15% more efficient than standard models. Two stages of operation (70% capacity for low-heat and 100% capacity for high-heat) save even more energy and help maintain optimal comfort level.

And while a 93 – 95% efficient furnace will cost $1,000 or more than an 80% efficient unit, it will provide energy and cost savings for the next 20 – 25 years or longer. The time it will take to recoup the difference depends on a number of factors, including the price of the equipment, fuel costs, climate, and the difference in efficiency between your old furnace and the new one. As energy costs continue to rise, those savings will add up even faster.

And don’t forget, you will also be helping the environment, as your new furnace will belch out tons less hydrocarbons into the atmosphere over its lifetime.

Want to save even more? Think one word: Geothermal! A geothermal heat pump can reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 50%, or more. And for 2012, a 30% Federal Tax Credit on the purchase of a qualified ENERGY STAR-RATED Geothermal Heat Pump is available to home owners, with no upper limit, including installation cost, which can save you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

We will go into more detail about geothermal heat pumps in our next post, including the groundbreaking project (no pun intended) under way at Ball State University in Muncie.

For more information about upgrading your home with a new, energy-efficient furnace or heat pump, visit the Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning website. Call 317-639-1111 to schedule a free in-home evaluation of your home’s existing heating system.

An open letter from Tamara Zahn, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. president:

As out-of-town Super Bowl guests leave the city, they take with them an awesome impression of Downtown Indianapolis and our community.  And based on the calls and e-mails we have received from around the country, game viewers had the same impression.  Here’s what a couple media voices had to say: 

According to USA Today, “Players and media hailed the convenience of the city. Said Giants guard Chris Snee, ‘You feel like you’re in the middle of everything.’ To those who know the Circle City, that sounds about right.” 

Darren Rovell, CNBC , summed up what many thought, “Indianapolis is the best Super Bowl City I’ve ever seen.” 

Thanks and congratulations to the Super Bowl Host Committee and our many IDI partners who worked with us to make Downtown shine in the national spotlight and provide guests with a SUPER experience.  Other cities will try to emulate our Downtown experience, but Indy’s spirit of collaboration and partnership is hard to match.

Virtually everyone we spoke to or heard on TV had nothing but great things to say about Indy and the party we put on. Hundreds of thousands of people from across the country visited Super Bowl Village, the NFL Experience broke all attendance records, and the zipline had more than 10,000 riders over the 10 days it ran, including Late Night host Jimmy Fallon, who did a great job showing Indy at it’s best as he hosted his show from the Hilbert Circle Theater.

In fact, the zipline was so popular there’s talk that it may make another appearance here in the future, say maybe sometime in late May. If you missed the chance to ride it, or want to do it again, keep your fingers crossed.

But, alas, it’s all over now. Time to get back to reality. And the reality is that it’s early February, and as mild as it has been so far, winter ain’t over yet! You can bet that we’ll still see our fair share of snow and ice before it’s over. Are you ready for it?

Chances are that more than a few residents of Indianapolis, Zionsville, Noblesville, Carmel and other communities that hosted events got so caught up with Super Bowl preparation that they may have overlooked a few of the things they would normally have done to get their home ready for the season, such as getting an annual maintenance check performed on their furnace or heating system.

According to PATH, a Public – Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology, “Get your furnace checked and tuned-up by professionals. Keeping your heating system at its optimum efficiency could save you hundreds of dollars on heating costs.”

If you haven’t had a Winter Tune-up performed yet, we currently have appointments available for comprehensive maintenance checks of your furnace, boiler, heat pump and ventilation system. At the same time, you might want to take advantage of the Thiele “Rewards” Service Program. For a very affordable annual fee, we will:

• Perform preventive maintenance twice a year, Spring and Autumn
• Check and adjust air flow temperature
• Clean or replace air filters
• Calibrate thermostats
• Clean coils and clear debris from condenser unit
• Provide a 10% discount on any parts and repairs, including for current visit

Thiele’s “Rewards” Service Program can provide you with the peace-of-mind of knowing that a well-maintained system rarely breaks down, but that in an emergency, you are our top priority! You can count on Thiele’s  skilled service technicians to provide prompt, reliable service.

To schedule your appointment, call Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning, Indy’s oldest heating & cooling company, at (317) 639-1111. For more information, visit our website, www.CallThiele.com.

• Somewhere around 200,000 people have already visited the Super Bowl Village.
• The NFL Experience has been drawing big crowds, with more than 40,000 attending last Sunday, and an expected attendance of more than 60,000/day next weekend.
• 150,000 visitors are expected to arrive between now and game day.

If you haven’t had a chance to take advantage of any of the Super Bowl Week activities, don’t fear. There’s still plenty of time, and loads of things to still do and see.

• Free concerts and entertainment continue downtown at the Super Bowl Village and The Huddle After Dark. The big shows this weekend will feature:
  • Edwin McCain and Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish) on Thursday
    
  • LMFAO and local favorites Fitz & The Tantrums on Friday
  • Umphrey’s McGee, North Mississippi Alstars, and O.A.R. on Saturday night.
    
    Download the complete list of artists and performance schedule. (PDF opens in new window)
• Enjoy one of the Super 46 Sandwiches selected from restaurants around the state. Find out what and where they are here.
• See the Super Cars – these unique Indy cars designed to represent each of the NFL teams have been moved from downtown to Super Celebration Sites across the state and locations around Indianapolis. Find the Super Cars and their locations here.
• Check out the 46 for XLVI – 46 murals around Marion County created by both local and national artists to honor each of the 46 Super Bowls. According to Mayor Ballrd, “The “46 for XLVI” murals will beautify our neighborhoods and are an innovative and creative way to augment the extensive infrastructure work underway across the City.” Click to see photos of the 46 for XLVI murals, and directions to their locations.
• Taste of the NFL, The Party with a Purpose – this annual fundraiser, one of the most popular Super Bowl events, has been taking place in Super Bowl cities for more than 20 years. This year’s party takes place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.
  
  The event features chefs from all the NFL cities serving their signature dishes. Graze from more than 35 food stations, meet and mingle with renowned chefs and NFL greats, and participate in a silent auction with unique sports memorabilia and other exciting items. Visit the Taste of the NFL website for more information and to purchase tickets to this great event. While not cheap, you’ll have a great time, and proceeds go to food banks in every NFL city.

Next week, it’s back to reality. While Super Bowl XLVI has given Indy a great opportunity to grow, rebuild, and improve its infrastructure and amenities, we will now need to deal with what comes next after all the visitor go home. Improvements need to continue and be kept up. Community spirit, which has reached a new high, has to be encouraged and harnessed to maintain the vibrant energy that’s been generated throughout town. We believe that after the great Super Bowl we’ve hosted, Indianapolis will be recognized as the World-Class city it deserves to be. Let’s keep growing and moving forward into the future!

And don’t forget, if you have problems with your HVAC system and need emergency service, Thiele, Indianapolis’ oldest heating & cooling company, is here when you needs us, 24/7. Yes, even on Super Bowl Sunday. For more information, call us at (317) 639-1111, or visit our website, www.CallThiele.com.

• NFL Charities Celebrity Bowling Classic – Up to 50 retired NFL players and Pro Football Hall of Famers will be on hand as teams of four amateur players will bowl two games each with rotating celebrity captains.
  Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012
  Time: 1:00 pm
  Location: Woodland Bowl
• 13th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration – the only gospel event sanctioned by the NFL for Super Bowl Weekend, the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was named by USA Today as “One of the Best Three Super Bowl Events to Attend.” Purchase tickets.
  Date: Friday, February 3, 2012
  Time: 7:30 pm
  Location: Clowes Memorial Hall
• The Pro Football Hall of Fame Merlin Olsen Luncheon – a maximum of 250 guests will have the opportunity to meet members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in a very intimate environment.
  Date: Friday, February 3, 2012
  Time: 11:00 am
  Location: Indianapolis Museum of Art
• The Super Bowl Breakfast – features the presentation of the Bart Starr Award to a current NFL player, voted on by his peers, for outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. Bart Starr will personally present the award to this year’s winner.
  Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012
  Time: 8:00 am
  Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds, Expo Hall
• Legends for Charity Dinner – benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, sportscaster and announcer Al Michaels will receive the Pat Summerall Award.
  Date: February 2, 2012
  Time: 5:30 pm
  Location: Westin Indianapolis
• Pepsi Super Bowl XLVI Fan Jam- three different concerts that feature a variety of musical genres, including:
  • Univision Pepsi Musica Super Bowl Fan Jam
    Guests: Dom Omar, Larry Hernandez, and Alejandra Guzman
    Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
    Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
    Location: Indiana Convention Center
  • Vh1 Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam
    Guests: Gym Class Heroes, B.o.B., All-American Rejects
    Date: Thursday, February 2, 2012
    Time: 7:00 pm (Doors open at 6:00 PM and Live TV show on VH1 begins at 8:00 PM)
    Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds, Pepsi Coliseum
  • CMT Crossroads Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam
    Guests: Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler
    Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012
    Time: 6:00 pm
    Location: Indiana State Fairgrounds Pepsi Coliseum

Get free tickets for the NFL Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam events, if still available, by registering to be a part of the TV audience at www.1iota.com.

And this only scratches the surface. See the Host Committee Event Calendar for a complete list of Super Bowl XLVI events and activities.

Getting There

As we mentioned in our post about Super Bowl event parking, parking downtown could be problematic. Probably the best alternative is Park and Ride. For $2.00 a person, you can reserve a parking spot at one of three locations and ride a convenient shuttle right to all the downtown activities.

And don’t forget, if you have problems with your HVAC system and need emergency service, Thiele, Indianapolis’ oldest heating & cooling company, is here when you needs us, 24/7. Yes, even on Super Bowl Sunday. For more information, call us at (317) 639-1111, or visit our website, www.CallThiele.com.

The NFL Experience is a pro football interactive theme park produced by the National Football League. The NFL Experience offers fans the opportunity to be a football star.

Taking place in the 500,000 square-foot space of the Indiana Convention Center, activities at the NFL Experience include:

• Participatory games
• Displays
• Entertainment attractions
• Kids’ football clinics
• Free autograph sessions
• The largest football memorabilia show ever

Visit the NFL Experience webpage for more information about activities & attractions, operating hours, tickets & discounts, and more. If you do plan to attend, be sure to download and complete the mandatory waiver to avoid long lines when you get there.
(PDF opens in new window)

Getting There

As we mentioned in our post about Super Bowl event parking, parking downtown could be problematic. Probably the best alternative is Park and Ride. For $2.00 a person, you can reserve a parking spot at one of three locations and ride a convenient shuttle right to all the downtown activities.

Tomorrow, we will finish this series about Super Bowl XLVI with a look at some of the other popular events and activities taking place around town.

For the latest energy-efficient heating and air conditioning equipment available today, contact Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning, Indianapolis’ oldest heating and cooling company, keeping Hoosiers’ homes comfortable since 1883. We feature state-of-the-art furnaces, heat pumps, and whole-house HVAC solutions from Rheem, our flagship line of products.

For more information about our products or services, visit www.CallThiele.com, or call (317) 639-1111.

However, local events kick off tomorrow, January 21 with Super Saturday: Get Your Game On!. From 12 Noon – 4 PM, enjoy an afternoon of football fun for the whole family at the Indianapolis Central Library.

• Take part in the “Super Scavenger Hunt with Prizes.”
• Meet Amanda Bocik with the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, who will present “A Guide to Super Bowl Events.”
• Kids can enjoy “Balloon Twisting in the Atrium”
• Create a custom football helmet design on Learning Curve laptops
• Participate in the “Digital Football Experience” in the green screen theater.

Admission to this family-friendly event is free. More information.

Official Super Bowl XLVI Events
Downtown Indy will come to life at 3:00 PM, Friday, January 27, with the opening of the Super Bowl Village on Georgia St., The Huddle at Circle Centre Mall, and the NFL Experience at the Convention Center. Today, we’ll take a look at the Super Bowl Village and The Huddle.

Click for larger map and schedule of Indianapolis' Super Bowl Village (PDF opens in new window)

Super Bowl Village
For ten days, from Friday, January 27 through Super Bowl Sunday on February 5, the Super Bowl Village in the heart of downtown Indy will be home to a free, family-friendly, interactive festival of football! The three-block long village will feature a number of venues and activities for the whole family to enjoy, including:

• Daily Entertainment – FREE live music all day long, presented on two stages. Great headliners close the show each night, including Poison’s Bret Michaels on Opening Day, Patti Labelle, Dierks Bentley, and Big Head Todd & The Monsters. Super Bowl ambassador Mike Epps will also make special appearances throughout the week. Download the complete list of artists and performance schedule. (PDF opens in new window)
  • On Friday, February 3, Party Rock is in the House with LMFAO.
  • Saturday the 4th features some of Indy’s favorite indie and jam bands getting the crowd pumped up for the Big Game in rockin’ style, including The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Here Come The Mummies, Umphrey’s McGee, and North Mississippi Allstars. And it’s all FREE!
• Zipline – rides will cost $10.00, but the 800 foot long ride, the longest temporary zipline in the US, should, in our opinion, be well-worth the cost for those adventurous enough to try it.
• Special Events
  • “Fire and Ice” Lounges will provide food and beverage sales throughout the Super Bowl Village.
  • Super Dash, a competition where fans of the opposing Super Bowl teams try to generate the most energy in human-sized “hamster wheels.” The top 100-yard dash scores will be announced each day.
  • Kinect NFL PLAY 60 FanDome – an immersive 360 degree inflated dome with full-body gaming on Kinect for Xbox 360.
  • Ice Gurus from The Food Network show Ice Brigade will do live ice sculpting performances.
  • Tailgate Town – tailgating competitions and football turf offering interactive game playing.
  • ESPN Broadcast Studio- from Monday, January 30 – Sunday, February 5, 2012, more than 110 hours of some of ESPN’s most popular TV and Radio shows will be broadcast from Indy, originating from Pan Am Plaza, including:
    • Mike & Mike in the Morning
    • SportsCenter
    • SportsNation
    • NFL Live
    • NFL32
    • Special four-hour edition of Sunday NFL Countdown on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Huddle
During the days leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, the former Nordstrom space at Indy’s Circle Center Mall will become The Huddle, providing visitors with entertainment and dining options, as well as a retail store operated by LIDS Sports Group on second floor.

During the day, The Huddle will feature:

• Chef’s Table
• End Zone Beer Garden
• Warming area with limited seating
• NFL Ticket Exchange
• LIDS Locker Room @ Circle Centre – 23,000 square feet of retail space with a wide assortment of Super Bowl and NFL merchandise.
• Entertainment
• LIVE WISH-TV broadcasts from the 24-Hour News 8 Huddle at Circle Centre studio
• Live morning broadcasts of Clear Channel’s Bob & Tom Show on Thursday, February 2 and Friday, February 3.

At night, the space becomes The Huddle After Hours, a dance club/ultra-lounge featuring bars, food and headliner DJs. Contemporary furniture, a VIP lounge, and a full sound & light system will provide exciting entertainment for adults 21 and over looking to party. (Note: a cover charge will apply.)

Getting There
As we mentioned in or last post about Super Bowl event parking, parking downtown could be problematic. Probably the best alternative is Park and Ride. For $2.00 a person, you can reserve a parking spot at one of three locations and ride a convenient shuttle right to all the downtown activities.

It all sounds great, doesn’t it? So much to do and see, we just can’t wait! And we’ve hardly scratched the surface.

In our next post, we will take a look at the exciting NFL Experience, 500,000 square feet of interactive football fun, including games, displays, entertainment attractions, kids’ football clinics, free autograph sessions and the largest football memorabilia show ever.

We’ll also look at some of the most popular events leading up to Super Bowl XLVI, such as the NFL Charities Celebrity Bowling Classic and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon.

For the latest energy-efficient heating and air conditioning equipment available today, contact Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning, Indianapolis’ oldest heating and cooling company, keeping Hoosiers’ homes comfortable since 1883. We feature state-of-the-art furnaces, heat pumps, and whole-house HVAC solutions from Rheem, our flagship line of products.

For more information about our products or services, visit www.CallThiele.com, or call (317) 639-1111.

Parking for Pre-Game Events
For events leading up to Super Sunday, you will be able to park in any of the many lots and garages in the downtown area, based on availability, of course, which may or may not be problematic. This interactive map of available lots and garages should help you find parking near your destination.

A good alternative to dealing with downtown traffic is Park and Ride, which will be in operation from Friday, January 27th through Saturday, February 3rd. Convenient, low-cost Park and Ride locations on the north, east, and west sides of downtown will be available to park your car and ride a roundtrip shuttle to the centrally-located drop-off/load zone near the Super Bowl Village. Park and Ride spaces can be reserved online at a cost of $2.00 person. Alternatively, cash sales will be accepted at all locations at $10 per carload.

Park and Ride Locations (click on links below for driving directions in a new window)

• North Location – 327 N. Illinois Garage
• West Location - Former Airport Long Term Parking lots at 2155 S. High School Road
• East Location- Market District Garage and adjacent Surface Lot at 101 N. New Jersey Street

Super Bowl XLVI Game Day Parking
Everything changes on Super Sunday! Pre-purchased parking permits will be needed to park downtown. Game Day parking permits are currently available for sale online, and seem to be going fast. (When we checked this morning, only two of the numerous garages were still taking orders for standard automobile parking.) The cost to park downtown is $60.00, plus FedEx shipping charges.

Download the Super Bowl XLVI Game Day Parking Map.

A couple of other things to note:

• All parking areas will open at 11am on Super Bowl Sunday
• Tailgating will not be allowed in any parking areas for Super Bowl XLVI
• There are no bus, limousine, sedan or shuttle drop-off or pick-up areas at Lucas Oil Stadium during Super Bowl XLVI
• Post Game ONLY – Taxis will be allowed to drop-off and pick-up on Robert D. Orr Plaza
• RV Parking will not be allowed in any parking areas for Super Bowl XLVI

Now that you know how to get downtown, and what to do with your car when you get there, you’re ready to enjoy the many events and activities leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. We’ll take a look at a number of these on Friday, including the NFL Experience at the Convention Center, and the free, family-friendly Super Bowl Village.

And don’t forget, if you have problems with your HVAC system and need emergency service, Thiele, Indianapolis’ oldest heating & cooling company, is here when you needs us, 24/7. Yes, even on Super Bowl Sunday. For more information, call us at (317) 639-1111, or visit our website, www.CallThiele.com.