About TerraSource
TerraSource is a geothermal utility company that designs, builds and operates geothermal systems at No Upfront Cost to you or your customers. We provide your project with all of the benefits of geothermal energy with no impact to your project budget.
History
TerraSource is part of the GeoTilty family of companies which got its start as a family owned and operated company, providing heating and cooling services to commercial and residential sectors. Jim Leask, the CEO and founder of GeoTility has been part of this business since he was a young man. In the early eighties, Mr. Leask took a trip to Europe and for the first time saw buildings and homes that used geothermal energy for their heating and cooling. Like many other renewable energy technologies, Europeans have always been ahead of North America with geothermal. In fact, in countries like Sweden and others, over 70% of new homes come standard with geothermal systems.
Jim immediately became fascinated with this technology and the potential that it held for his customers and expansion within his business. He also saw the significant impact that geothermal could have on the planet and the future of clean energy. Jim developed a vision of how this technology could be applied throughout North America and began to fulfill that vision. Over the next several years, Mr. Leask transformed his company. He initially took steps to offer geothermal systems in addition to their other heating and cooling solutions, and over time, the company became solely focused on geothermal. In the early 1990’s, Mr. Leask bought out the other family shareholders and transformed GeoTility into the group of companies that it is today, with a singular focus on Geothermal systems for commercial, residential and district systems.
In the early 2000’s, GeoTility was approached by a real estate developer that wanted to install geothermal systems throughout their project. However, they were concerned with the upfront cost of geothermal and affect that this added cost would have on the economics of their project. Jim offered to provide the geothermal system for free and simply charge a monthly fee for its use – in other words, a utility service. This was the start of a new company called TerraSource, which is Orca Energy’s sister company with an identical business model. At around 2010, Geotility was expanding throughout the U.S. and started offering the geothermal utility model to projects in the U.S., which became the launching of Orca Energy and its initial set of projects. Today GeoTility, Orca and TerraSource build, own, and operate hundreds of geothermal systems throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Jim Leask and GeoTility have been significant leaders and icons of the geothermal industry through decades of participation and promotion. Mr. Leask has served on numerous boards and participated in all of the major industry groups, helping promote the awareness of geothermal as the most energy efficient method for heating and cooling. Today, companies like Google, Bosch, Lennar, Microsoft and countless others are involved in the expansion and deployment of geothermal systems, in a large part thanks to the efforts of Jim Leask and others like him.
Leadership
Jim Leask, CEO
Jim is one of the co-founders and CEO of TerraSource. Jim is also the founder and CEO of TerraSource’s parent and sister companies, GeoTility Corp, GSC and Orca Energy. Jim has had a lifelong prolific career in the geothermal industry having started Geotility in 1990. Jim’s experience has made him an expert of the business management, land development, utility operations and design and installation of ground source heat pump “GSHP” systems in commercial and residential settings within both the private and public sectors.
Jim is an industry maven and has been instrumental in developing the GSHP market in Canada and the US. He has served on both the Board of Directors of the Earth Energy Society of Canada and GeoExchange BC. Jim actively promotes the technology and the growth of the geoexchange industry throughout North America. Jim’s pioneering vision to establish a geothermal utility service has eliminated the fundamental economic barriers faced by many developers and owners considering geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Stuart Yanow, P.Eng., President
Stuart is a Certified Geothermal Designer who has dedicated much of his time as an engineer to the advancement of Geothermal systems. He is responsible for the design of some of the largest Geothermal systems in Canada and the United States. Having been the project manager on numerous institutional, commercial and residential Geothermal systems, he has a vast amount experience in the implementation of the technology. His understanding of building mechanical systems enables him to properly marry the Geothermal design with the HVAC systems within the buildings.
Lorne Koebel, CGA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Lorne is a Certified General Accountant with over 20 years experience in accounting. He has been involved as a consultant in numerous systems design, accounting software installation, training and development and reporting requirements for a number of different industries. Lorne also spent 15 years involved in public practice before focusing on a controllership role and private industry. He currently oversees all accounting functions of the Canadian and US operations along with the implementation of the US Utility procedures and policies.
Jordan Parro – Senior Engineer
Jordan is a mechanical engineer who began developing his understanding of geothermal systems through his studies and practical experiences as a co-op student. Practicing as both a project manager and junior designer on a variety of commercial and residential projects has allowed him to further strengthen his knowledge in the implementation of this technology. Jordan serves as an active board member for GeoExchange B.C. and is currently the Branch Manager for the Vancouver B.C. Geotility operations. He has created all of the Quality Control processes related to Orca Energy installations and overseas documentation and due diligence related to implementing Orca Energy systems.
Projects
Wilden, Kelowna, BC
A 2,000 acre development located in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Perched on the mountainside and situated directly on bedrock, there are over 500 homes feature geothermal heating and cooling.
Sage at Maple Lawn, Fulton, MD
Orca Energy partnered with Bozzuto homes in this development located between Washington D.C. and Baltimore Maryland. Every home features a geothermal system and are the most energy efficient homes ever built by Bozzuto.
Predator Ridge, Vernon, BC
With over 700 homes and 28 years of history, Predator Ridge is the most amenity rich four season community in the Okanagan. A four season Okanagan resort experience unlike any other.
Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills, GA
Orca Energy provided geothermal utility services for townhouses at the Serenbe development. Serenbe is renowned for its emphasis on sustainability, community, the arts and health & well being.