Our world uses energy like it’s going out of style. This is a sad state of affairs, but given our modern lifestyles, there’s really no way for us to completely stop this consumption. The burning of fossil fuels is currently our primary way of generating energy, but the byproducts of soot and carbon-based gases are also a major cause of potentially hazardous greenhouse gases. Utilizing geothermal heat might give us a way to use the same amount of energy while producing only harmless vapors.
According to many experts, geothermal energy can be used easily, efficiently, consistently and with minimal environmental impact. This type of energy is harnessed by tapping into hot water and steam – a.k.a. hydrothermal energy – contained beneath our feet. Because it originates at our earth’s core, this energy is essentially limitless (geothermal reservoirs come from natural resources and are naturally replenished!).
Unlike conventional energy sources like coal and fossil fuels, geothermal energy is a resource that, according to scientists, will last an untold amount of years. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, “The earth has been emitting heat from its center for 4.5 billion years and shows no signs of slowing down.” Given this information, it’s safe to say this form of energy is renewable.
Installing a geothermal energy system (e.g. a geothermal heat pump) could be one of the best ways to help protect the environment from our energy consumption. Because these energy systems use harmless steam to create energy and burn no fossil fuels like oil, coal or gas, very few harmful emissions result. When compared to systems that burn fossil fuels, the emissions of nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide from geothermal systems are extremely low.
It’s reasonably clear that geothermal energy comes from a seemingly inexhaustible supply of heat provided naturally by the earth and can be harnessed while leaving a minute amount of pollution behind, there’s really only one question left to ask: When will you start using it in your life?