a. For purposes of this section, the term "geothermal system" means a system used to exchange geothermal energy between the earth and one or more buildings to provide heating or cooling.
b. An office or agency designated by the mayor shall conduct an efficiency and efficacy study of existing geothermal systems in city buildings.
c. In order to complete such study, remote monitoring sensors and data loggers shall be installed in five or more city buildings with existing geothermal systems for the purpose of collecting data from any such system for a period of not less than 12 months.
d. No later than two years after the installation of such remote monitoring sensors and data loggers, the office or agency designated by the mayor to conduct such study shall, prepare and electronically submit a report to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and make such report publicly available online.
e. The report required by subdivision d of this section shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
1. the cost of installing any such geothermal system;
2. any problems encountered in installing any such system and solutions developed to address such problems and any costs or savings associated with such solutions;
3. the cost of operating any such system, including energy consumption, maintenance, and other expenditures;
4. any problems encountered in operating any such system and solutions developed to address such problems;
5. an energy modeling analysis of the performance of any such system;
6. comparisons of such performance to the performance of conventional heating and cooling systems located in comparable city buildings; and
7. recommendations for continuing or expanding the use of geothermal systems.
(L.L. 2018/178, 10/27/2018, eff. 10/27/2018)