New Geothermal System Sets ‘Standard’ at ECC’s Manufacturing and Technology Center

As more industries increasingly adopt sustainable and energy-efficient technologies, Elgin Community College’s (ECC) new Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTC) will provide students with hands-on experience using one of the fastest-growing systems in the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) industry: geothermal technology.

In this video, Reyes Estrada, ECC’s instructional coordinator for HVAC, describes how the geothermal system installed at the MTC will serve as both a teaching tool and a workforce development resource when the facility opens in the fall. 

“We want to set a standard,” Estrada says in the video. “Geothermal system technology is gaining a lot of popularity as there’s more construction for buildings, hospitals, and schools. Having the geothermal system will allow us to close the skill gap that is out there in the industry.”

The new technology will give students hands-on experience working with water-source heat pumps and other geothermal components that help move heating and cooling throughout buildings, Estrada adds. They’ll also learn how to monitor water temperatures, troubleshoot performance issues, and service the system.  

“The industry has changed my life and my career,” says Estrada. “I want to advocate for the students that there is an industry pathway here that can be very rewarding.”

Watch this video to learn more about the geothermal system and how ECC is preparing students in the evolving HVAC industry.

For more information about other programs offered in the MTC and the new facility’s grand opening on September 26, visit elgin.edu/mtc.