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Harnessing the Power of the Earth with Geothermal Energy- Climate Solution Career Profile of Henry Jerome

Grace Choi
8 hours ago
4 min read

By: Eugenie Lewis


Photo: Eugenie Lewis and Henry Jerome at Johnson High School in St. Paul, Minnesota


“Geothermal is The Way to Go” – Henry Jerome


I had a wonderful opportunity to learn about Geothermal Energy from my cousin Henry Jerome, a project engineer, on my recent trip to my home state of Minnesota. This is another great example of a Climate Solution Career. His work contributes to the goal of reducing Carbon emissions by 50% by 2030.


Henry grew up in Minneapolis and received his bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. He currently serves as Project Engineer with the St. Paul Public Schools where he has worked for 14 years. He recently spearheaded a project to bring renewable energy to Johnson High School, with hopes of expanding it to other schools in the district. He noted that summer school students have found it increasingly hot without air conditioning at schools across St. Paul.


Henry collaborated with a colleague from the local engineering firm, TKDA to convert a portion of the school’s energy system by using a Geothermal Heat Pump. The new system, which is expected to be operating this fall, provides long-term savings and efficiency for the school district.  It also adds air conditioning, which is increasingly needed as Minnesota experiences hotter weather in the summer. The $18.8 million project expects to cut natural gas consumption at Johnson High School by more than half!


Henry believes that geothermal energy holds promise for schools, commercial and government buildings. In this way, it contributes to the overall goal of reducing carbon emissions!

Henry Jerome and Darryl Leong at Johnson High School

How Geothermal Heat Pumps Work

About 10 feet below the earth’s surface, the ground temperature remains fairly constant at approximately 54 degrees Fahrenheit - no matter how hot or cold it is outside. When the air is cold, the ground temperature is relatively warm, and when it is hot outside, the ground is relatively cool. 


The Geothermal Heat Pump takes advantage of these stable ground temperatures by efficiently using a ground heat exchanger. A glycol mixture runs through a set of buried pipes and transfers heat between the ground and the school’s heat and cooling system.


There are three major components of the geothermal system:

  1. An underground loop is located outside of the building. It contains a liquid that consists of water blended with a non-toxic antifreeze that absorbs the energy form the stable underground temperature. The loop may be installed vertically or horizontally, depending on the space available. In practice the ground is driven to a higher temperature in the cooling season and to a lower temperature in the heating season.  

  2. A Geothermal Heat Pump is located within the building. In the heating season, the heat pump uses the heat energy from the ground that is carried to the building in the liquid solution. In the cooling season, the heat pump deposits heat energy into the ground using the liquid to carry that heat to the ground. 

  3. The distribution system consists of the ductwork within the building that constantly circulates air.

Diagram of a Geothermal Loop Located Underground: Credit: Tennessee Valley Authority  tva.gov

Installation of the System

To install the Geothermal heat pump, the St. Paul School district hired a contractor to dig up the school’s baseball field and create 160 wells that were 305 feet deep. A set of underground pipes were then placed below the ground and connected to the school’s heat pumps. The warm or cold air is then distributed throughout the building as needed. 


Climate Solution Careers in Geothermal Energy

In addition to using Geothermal Heat Pumps for the immediate heating and cooling buildings, Geothermal Energy can also be used to generate electricity on a larger scale. Geothermal power plants rely on the heat that exists deeper in the earth by using pockets of steam or hot water. In some cases, hot water can be reused from other industrial sources.

Geothermal energy holds promise as we work to decarbonize the energy system. There is potential for geothermal energy development throughout the US. According to a 2019 Department of Energy report, geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold from today – reaching 60 GW of installed capacity by 2050. 


Careers in the geothermal industry include skilled workers and those with professional degrees. They include scientists, engineers, construction workers and plant operators.

Facilities project manager Henry Jerome at Johnson High School, where a an $18.8 million geothermal project expects to cut natural gas consumption by more than half. Credit: Frank Jossi

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