Electrification – RMH Group

The RMH Group evaluated geo-exchange and deep geothermal energy solutions across the University of Colorado Boulder’s three primary campuses to support long-term decarbonization and energy resilience goals. The team analyzed each campus’s heating and cooling demands, available land area, and subsurface conditions to identify the most viable geothermal strategies.

At Williams Village, RMH determined that a conventional geo-exchange system could efficiently meet campus energy needs. For Main Campus, the team assessed a deep geothermal steam solution capable of supporting approximately 200,000 MBH of heating and 10,000 tons of cooling through a borefield of up to 2,600 wells reaching depths of 1,000 feet. At East Campus, RMH compared an ambient loop network with a centralized heat pump plant to serve approximately 100,000 MBH of heating and 8,000 tons of cooling, using up to 1,700 boreholes at a depth of 800 feet.

The study also identified a geo-exchange opportunity at Williams Village capable of supporting 17,000 MBH of heating and 750 tons of cooling with approximately 300 boreholes. In addition, the team evaluated a campus-wide alternative featuring a 26,000-foot closed-loop deep geothermal system capable of serving all three campuses.

The RMH Group provided engineering services for a new 48,000-square-foot behavioral health and acute care facility in Aurora, Colorado, delivering a critical community resource for long-term treatment, detoxification, crisis stabilization, and inpatient mental health care.

Designed to support 61 patient beds across detox, crisis stabilization, and isolation units, the three-story facility also includes therapy spaces, nurse stations, behavioral health support areas, and clinical treatment environments. RMH developed an all-electric building design centered on a high-efficiency heat pump system and advanced building controls to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the stringent ventilation, comfort, and safety requirements of a healthcare facility. The team incorporated specialized behavioral health design considerations throughout the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including tamper-resistant fixtures, ligature-resistant components, and secure patient environments.

The facility achieved designation as an Xcel Energy Efficient Building by focusing on electrification, energy performance, and sustainable building operations. Working closely with the owner, architect, and contractor, RMH helped align the design with project budget objectives while maintaining performance, safety, and operational goals.

The project earned the 2026 CAHED Collaboration and Innovation Award in recognition of its integrated approach to behavioral healthcare delivery and facility design.

Originally a World War II munitions plant, Building 48 has been transformed into a LEED Gold-certified and SITES Silver-certified office for the Department of the Interior’s Interior Business Center.

The project involved converting a 1940s-era warehouse into a modern, energy-efficient workspace. RMH designed advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that facilitated the building’s net-zero energy profile. A key feature was installing a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) system, which included perimeter single-zone units and additional units for interior zones and ventilation. This system capitalizes on Colorado’s dry climate through direct evaporative cooling, achieving a 75% reduction in energy consumption in shoulder seasons.

The electrical design focused on complete building electrification, incorporating three 240kW electric boilers that work with the WSHP. RMH kept the switchgear capacity below 4000A, creatively repurposing an old transformer for EV charging stations. A 200kW solar array on the roof and site solar at the Denver Federal Center supplied 100% renewable energy.

The RMH Group Has Joined SALAS O'Brein