The National Western Center campus now sources 90 percent of its heating and cooling from an existing 72-inch diameter wastewater infrastructure pipe, called the Delgany Interceptor. The system is the largest wastewater heat recovery system in the U.S. to date. Once complete, seven buildings will connect to the system with the capacity to expand.

Iron Woman’s work included construction of a 25-foot-deep wet well connection at a nearby utility hole that pulls wastewater out and then returns it to the Delgany Interceptor. On extreme hot/cold days, this system is supplemented by high-efficiency natural gas boilers and chillers, which ensures reliability and competitive cost. The success of this project required coordination between the City and County of Denver, the National Western Center Authority, National Western Stock Show, Colorado State University, Metro Water Recovery, CenTrio, AECOM and Saunders.