Geothermal | Anyone can Save 40% on Their Electric Bill

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:15:40 +0000

It is true, with a geothermal heat pump you can save between 30% and 40% on your electric bill according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Geothermal Heat Exchangers as they are referred to, rely on the simple fact that the temperature under the earth stays at a consistent temperature of 45 – 70 degrees (typically about 50 degrees) depending on geographic location. By using this consistent temperature to heat and cool a house or business one avoids the expensive (and energy consuming) process of heating cold air and cooling hot air. The greatest thing about a geothermal heat exchange system is that it can be installed virtually anywhere.

This system work by first installing piping in the ground deep enough to get below the frost line or about 2 feet or more down. This piping is filled with fluid which circulates the consistent temperature up to a unit called a heat exchanger located within the house or building. The heat exchanger then does one of two things. One, it cools the building by removing the heat from the air and sending it into the ground. Two, by heating the already consistent temperature from the ground to the few degrees needed to heat the building.

The cost for purchasing and installing this system is considerably more than a typical HVAC system but carries some perks that typical systems do not. Depending on the size of your house and the earth it is resting on (stone, soil or near a pond) the system can typically cost from $15,000 to $40,000. Many systems come with as much as a 50 year guarantee. There are frequently tax savings which reduces the time involved in recouping the costs. Furthermore, beyond the long term savings of a geothermal heat pump, is the short and long term benefits of global energy conservation.

Many federal and state incentives are being given to those who install the a geothermal heat pump system, to read more see http://www.geoexchange.org/

U.S. Geothermal Potential

admin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:13:19 +0000

The western side of the United States is located along a section of what is called the “Ring of Fire,” a line of seismic and geothermal activity. This region in particular is capable of generating a substantial amount of the United States power that is currently being powered by coal. According to the Geothermal Education Office right now 4 million people in the U.S. are being supplied electricity by geothermal energy (based on 2800 MW, the USGS states 2500MW). According to the U.S. Geological Survey assessment, this number could be increased by 260% using conventional geothermal (that is 6500MW). Furthermore the assessment describes unconventional production methods, and states that 517,800MW is the potential electric generation. (video above describes geothermal power plants)

In addition to using geothermal energy to produce electricity, it can be used to assist in the heating and cooling of houses and buildings. The system that does this is called a geoexchange system, and can be used anywhere in the U.S. and will drop your electric bill 40%-70%. It works by using the consistent 50 degree temperature found underground to regulate the temperature indoors. Currently 300,000 homes and businesses in the U.S. are utilizing geoexchange systems. Learn more at http://www.geoexchange.org/

Continued development of geothermal energy will greatly reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels. At Renergycafe.com we hope to see more geothermal energy.

(This video describes a geoexchange system)

There is an excelent slide show here: http://geothermal.marin.org/geopresentation/

Renergy Cafe » geothermal

Geothermal | Anyone can Save 40% on Their Electric Bill

U.S. Geothermal Potential