“Cradle To Grave” System Services For Customers

Founded in 1986, the Tulsa-based firm of K&M Shillingford is the only company that leases geothermal systems to customers.

Founded in 1980, K&M Shillingford (KMS) is a design/build mechanical contracting firm that has been a pioneer in providing innovative solutions for today’s heating and cooling needs. The company is based in Tulsa, Okla., and specializes in geothermal heat pumps. KMS has the distinct honor of leading the country in environmental system solutions.
The firm was started with two engineers and a technician who had strong interests in the role of alternative energy applications in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning industry. At the same time, closed loop earth coupled geothermal water source heat pump technology was in its infancy with technology learned in Europe. The company has evolved into a very well respected firm employing designers, sales, engineers, installation technicians and service technicians to provide complete “cradle to grave” system services to their customers.
President, Jay Murphy has a clear vision of K&M Shillingford’s specialty.
“We specialize in energy saving. We specialize in trying to give our customers the most efficient systems possible and we justify the higher efficiency with financial return on their investment. We justify if the energy efficient system is right for our customer, we can actually show that by giving them a good return on their investment.”
KMS specializes in design, sales and service of heating, cooling, water systems, geothermal heat pumps, air heat pumps, air cleaners, humidification and solar. The company also specializes in heating and air conditioning contracting. The vast menu of services offered includes the design, installation and service of the following types of systems: conventional heating, ventilation, air conditioning, ductwork, boiler and chiller conversions, geothermal air to water heat pumps, geothermal water to water heat pumps, air to air heat pumps, air cleaners, humidification, solar hot water, solar pool heaters, water heaters, geothermal domestic water heating, geothermal pool heating, geothermal pool de-humidification, geothermal floor slab and walkway heating, design, installation and service of horizontal and vertical closed loop energy fields including drilling of vertical well bore holes, installation of vertical loop piping in bore holes, pressure grout bore holes after insertion of piping, trenching and backfill, well headers, underground iping from energy field to structure, pressure testing of well field piping and purging well field of debris and air.
This quarter of a century old company has many major completed projects under its belt, including Northeastern State University, Oklahoma’s fourth-largest public four-year institution. Other projects include Rogers State University, Wallace Engineering and Lawton Junior High.
New markets of interest to KMS include inverter technology. The inverter technology is integrated in the outdoor unit and can be compared to the technology in a car - the harder you push your accelerator, the faster you go. An inverter unit will gradually increase its capacity based on the capacity needed in the room to cool down or heat up the room. The non-inverter can be compared with switching on or off a lamp. Switching on this type of unit will start to run on full load.
Additionally,  Murphy is excited about a new project the company is undertaking. “We are leasing geothermal systems to our customers. If you can’t afford the geothermal, we’ll put it in for you and we’ll lease it back. That way, we can justify the cost by so much savings, it will add up to the actual lease payment.” Murphy goes on to say, “We are the only company currently that leases geothermal systems.”
Over 75 percent of the company’s annual sales are in the field of earth coupled geothermal heat pumps and energy saving HVAC systems. Each of these systems utilizes some form of heat transfer techniques to provide increased system efficiency and lower system operating costs. KMS has played an active role in laying the groundwork such as promoting and educating companies, industries and homeowners about its advantages. For the last 30 years they have shared their knowledge of the industry with universities, technical schools, equipment manufacturers, utility companies, government agencies, architects and engineers. The company has designed and installed well over 1000 complete systems utilizing millions of feet of geothermal pipe in the earth.
There is over 350 years combined experience on staff. KMS was one of the first mechanical contractors to be involved in the installation of earth coupled ground source heat pump systems. They are believed to be the oldest company involved with this technology throughout the country. The first vertical closed loop system utilizing high-density, high-molecular weight polyethylene pipe was installed by KMS. They are responsible for several industry techniques utilized today. In addition, several government and private industry prototype test installation and monitoring programs have been constructed by KMS. All in all, the company is responsible for installing over 500 miles of vertical and horizontal underground pipe that is utilized for over 1000 earth coupled ground source heat pump systems.
KMS intends to remain the leader in quality design, installation and service of products in Oklahoma and they are excited about expanding their knowledge and expertise beyond the current area into Illinois and Missouri.
KMS is a member of the Green Country and National Air Conditioning Contractors Association, American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. They have a Boiler License, Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors License. KMS is also HubZone certified. ELT