Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Clean Energy Spotlight: How Pennsylvania Schools Are Cashing In On Ground-Source Heat Pumps
At the end of April, UndauntedK12 co-presented at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Clean Energy Opportunity Spotlight, bringing together municipal leaders, school officials, and clean energy advocates to explore the opportunity of leveraging federal tax credits to install ground-source heat pumps in Pennsylvania schools.
The session featured Dr. Joe Meloche, Superintendent of Rose Tree Media School District, who shared his district's journey toward a new kindergarten and first-grade center cooled and heated by ground-source heat pumps. When his design team presented HVAC options in May 2025, the board evaluated the full lifecycle cost picture and chose a system that will save nearly $8 million over the next 30 years, and qualify for an estimated $3.2 million federal tax credit through Elective Pay.
“What’s it going to look like 10 years from now, 15 years from now, 25 years from now?” Dr. Meloche asked, describing the board’s generational thinking. With the tax credit, the district’s net first cost for the ground-source heat pump system is lower than the gas boiler alternative — making it the financially obvious choice from day one.
If you missed the live session, you can watch the recording here.
UndauntedK12 also offers the Energy Tax Credits for Schools Hub. This online resource provides tools and support to assist school leaders in navigating these financial incentives, including a detailed walkthrough of the Elective Pay process.
Pennsylvania school districts are making HVAC decisions today that will shape student health and district budgets for decades. Federal tax credits for ground-source heat pumps offer a pathway to lower long-term operating costs while addressing growing cooling needs. Reference or share this one-pager about the modern HVAC opportunity.
