The Homewood Village Board approved a contract with Kluber Engineering at the May 26 meeting for the replacement of the current geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the fire and police departments.
Kluber representatives who attended the meeting told trustees that based on the firm’s evaluation, it recommends replacing the aging geothermal system with a hot water/chilled water system. This heating and cooling system uses boilers to produce hot water for heat and a chiller to provide cooling.
The new system would distribute heated and cooled air throughout the building, improve ventilation and provide more consistent temperatures, said Brian Grey, director of mechanical engineering with Kluber.
The $217,750 contract covers architectural and engineering services for the replacement, said Homewood Assistant Village Manager Terence Acquah.
The existing geothermal system was installed in 2011 at a cost of about $1.5 million and replaced the building’s original boiler and chiller system, which was installed during the facility’s construction in 1967. At the time, the geothermal system was expected to reduce energy costs and maintenance expenses while providing long-term operational savings, Acquah said.
The system has become costly over the last several years, and it has been difficult to locate replacement parts due to its age. Repairing the system’s controls alone is estimated to cost about $800,000. Geothermal systems are also becoming less common, Acquah said.
Staff cited recurring mechanical failures and an ongoing leak of non-toxic glycol within the underground geothermal loop system, and reported that because of temperature inconsistencies throughout the building, employees have been using space heaters, fans and cooling units in some areas, he said.
The village solicited bids for a replacement system, seeking firms with experience designing HVAC systems for public safety facilities and other 24-hour operations. Three firms submitted proposals, and village staff selected Kluber based on the firm’s experience with similar projects and its previous work with the village, he said.
The study estimated the cost of the recommended HVAC improvements at approximately $2.2 million, not including potential hazardous material abatement costs or future architectural and engineering fees. The village has secured $700,000 in grant funding for this project through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Acquah said.
The contract with Kluber includes $45,000 in commission services to ensure the new system is properly installed, calibrated and functioning as intended before final acceptance, he said.
The next step is for Kluber to begin preparing construction drawings, specifications and bid documents, which is expected to take six to eight weeks, Acquah said.
Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027, with final completion expected during summer 2028, he said.
Homewood Trustee Lauren Roman inquired if the current geothermal system stays in place until the project is completed. A proposed five-story residential building is on track to be constructed in 2027 or 2028. The building’s footprint will cover the geothermal well field.
“Yes and no, […] ultimately, the goal is to do the least amount of disruption as possible,” Grey said.
Roman also expressed concern over the ownership of the village hall parking lot during the process of construction.
According to Homewood Village Manager Napoleon Haney, since the timeline for construction of Kluber and Holladay Properties are set so far out, the dates for the projects will be adjusted to prevent collision.
Also, since the existing geothermal wells located under the village hall parking lot will be abandoned during the HVAC project, Holladay Properties is expected to be responsible for the removal and final restoration of the geothermal well field infrastructure, Acquah said.
