Fire panel drops geothermal heating option

at 185500 FSBC 10 22 2026 · Meeting of October 22, 2026

BOXBOROUGH — The Boxborough Fire Station Building Committee voted unanimously to drop a ground-source geothermal heating system for the town's new fire station. Design team member Jeff said the cost gap between geothermal and a conventional air-source heat pump had grown to roughly $2.2 million, more than double the $1 million difference cited at Town Meeting, once well-drilling costs were included. Member Mike, who said he does not vote, called the option unlikely to be "palatable at an extra million dollars." Resident Cindy Markowitz urged the panel to weigh equipment lifespan, noting underground systems may outlast air-source units.

The committee also approved $178,501.96 in September invoices and endorsed an exterior palette of fiber-cement siding, asphalt shingles and a precast concrete base, with colors to come later.

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Source: the at 185500 FSBC 10 22 2026 meeting of October 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.