Geothermal Heating And Cooling

The first questions that comes up to your mind when you hear about geothermal energy is probably "How does geothermal energy work?" This article tries to answer that questions and also explains some interesting geothermal energy facts.

Geothermal comes from the Greek words "Geo" (earth) and "Therme" (heat). So in that sense, you have probably already figured out that geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can actually use the steam and hot water inside the earth's core to heat buildings and produce electricity. A very important eco fact is that geothermal energy is a renewable energy source, since the water is recovered by rainfall, while the heat itself is produced all the time within the earth.

One of the most interesting geothermal energy facts is that geothermal energy is produced 4,000 miles below the surface in the earth's core. You will probably be amazed to hear that the temperatures in there are hotter than the sun's surface. The reason for this phenomenon is a radioactive process that takes place in all rocks. People from all parts of the world have started using geothermal energy to heat their homes and generate electricity by digging deep holes and pumping the heated underground water. But that's just one the uses and it's called direct use. Geothermal power plants are built around geothermal reservoirs, because they require water or steam at very high temperature (like 300 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit). Hot water near the surface of the earth is piped directly into buildings and used for heating. In Reykjavik, Iceland, 95% of the buildings use geothermal energy for heating, but that's due to the uniqueness of this country since that's the country with the largest number of geysers in the world.

Geothermal energy is one of the best types of energy when it comes to how safe it is for the environment. We have other sources which are far more dangerous and cause much more pollution, whereas geothermal energy has almost zero negative impact on the environment. The biggest advantage is that it doesn't require the burning of fuel to generate electricity, so there is practically no emission. A geothermal power plant releases only about 1 to 3 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions of a fossil fuel plant and emit 97 percent less acid rain. The best thing is that after the water and how steam have been used, they are reinjected back into the earth.

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