Congratulations to Bratcher Heating and Air Conditioning and Weidner Refrigeration, Winners of the 2017 Top Job Competition
GAOI member-contractors Bratcher Heating and Air Conditioning of Bloomington-Normal and Weidner Refrigeration of Divernon are the winners of the first Top Job competition, honoring the top geothermal heat pump projects in the Land of Lincoln. The winners were selected from a group of finalists at the 2017 IL Geothermal Conference in late March.
Bratcher won the commercial division and Weidner was the Top Job in the residential division. Bratcher won for its creative Nussbaum Transportation center project. The Bloomington trucking company has its headquarters on the north side of the twin cities region, right alongside I-39. Geothermal systems condition both the headquarters/office faciility, as well as the maintenance center, which consists of a garage and truck maintenance facility, and drivers’ area. The two buildings total 32,000 square feet and radiant heating is used in both of them. GeoComfort geothermal equipment is used throughout the project. The Hole Deal of Goodfield installed the loop field for the project.
Weidner won the residential division with a unique combination of water-to-water and water-to-air installation at a new, Springfield west side home that features an indoor swimming pool. The geothermal system conditions the pool water, maintaining year-round temperature consistency, as well as the radiant heat installation in the pool room. A combination of radiant heat and forced air heating and cooling conditions the remainder of the home. The temperature of the pool actually helps with conditioning the remainder of the home at times throughout the year. The loop field was installed by Durbin Geothermal of Beecher City.
Top Job 2017 was made possible through the support of Enertech Geothermal, Water Furnace, The Habegger Co. and Connor Co. We look to make this an annual event of the GAOI and hope that more will participate in next year’s competition.
Bratcher Heating and Air Conditioning of Normal was the commercial-category winner in the first GAOI Top Job competition. Bratcher’s manager Brian Houchin led his team through the design and installation of a comprehensive geothermal installation at the Nussbaum Trucking facility on the far north side of Bloomington-Normal. The geothermal system serves the headquarters office facility and service building for the trucking company and provides the company with significant savings and environmental attributes. From left are Mitch Shoultz and Alex Wright of Bratcher, then GAOI Board President Chad Mays presenting the award to Houchin, then Shawn Seibert and Tim Kresl of the company.
Weidner Refrigeration in Divernon was the residential-category winner in the first Geo Top Job competition sponsored by the Geothermal Alliance of Illinois (GAOI). Owner Dave Weidner designed a unique heat, cooling and dehumidification system for a new home in Springfield to provide year-round comfort for the house, which includes an indoor pool area using geothermal heat pump technology. Shown receiving the award are company employees Levi Steinacher, Matt Nagel, Derek Clayton, GAOI Board President Chad Mayes, Dave Weidner, Robert Selinger, Robert Hillemeyer, and Mike Weidner. Weidner was one of six finalists selected for the Top Job competition, held in conjunction with the recent IL Geothermal Conference in East Peoria. Participants at the conference voted for the winners.
