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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE Lawrence Johnson, an engineer with the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, will be honored later this month by the Association of Energy Engineers for his national expertise in geothermal heating and cooling systems, and work in groundbreaking energy conservation at the Minot base.

Johnson will receive a national award from the Association of Energy Engineers for outstanding achievement in geothermal energy technology in Region IV. The award will be presented to him at the organization's national conference in Washington, D.C., Nov. 23.

Region IV encompasses 13 states including North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

"I am very honored to receive this award for Region IV," said Johnson. "I am especially pleased to be involved in a technological advance that will help to create sustainable energy sources for future generations."

Commonly referred to as ground-source heating/cooling pumps, geothermal systems use the earth's consistent temperature, rather than the outside air temperature, for commercial and residential heating and cooling needs.

A Civil Service employee with the base squadron, Johnson has been working on converting dated boiler/chiller energy systems to geothermal energy systems in many of the Minot base's structures. He estimates there are about 800 geothermal units of various sizes currently in operation on base, with plans to have 1,300 in operation by late 2010.

"Eventually, geothermal units will heat and cool most office and dormitory space," Johnson said.