MakeHeat

Like Cinderalla, this may be our princess – okay, so not a good analogy.  Still, geothermal  has it’s merits: it’s constant – no cloudy days or nasty nightfall to stop your nee3ds being met; it’s everywhere – some places more accessible than others, but if you dig deep enough you can find it.

“…lthough the United States is the world leader in geothermal, with 69 plants currently generating about 2,960 MW, other countries such as Iceland and the Philippines are getting a healthy portion of their power from the resource. The Philippines generates 27 percent of its electricity (about 1,350 MW) from geothermal power. Geothermal plants in Iceland generate about 25 percent of that country’s electrical power; perhaps more impressive is that an estimated 87 percent of Iceland’s buildings are heated with water cycled from geothermal wells through building pipes and heat radiators — one example of what is called “geothermal direct heat.” …”

via - Miller-McCune

You don’t need to be next to a geyser to take advantage of  geothermal heating.  Geothermal systems use tubes buried under your property either horizontally or vertically to take advantage of the earth’s typically 57 degrees F heat, and a “heat pump” to extract that heat to bring into your home.

“…Walker said a homeowner can recover the extra cost of geothermal heating and cooling within about seven years.

“Heating and cooling systems for new homes cost a chunk of change these days.

For larger houses, a basic heating and cooling system, including installing ductwork for a forced-air system, could run from $20,000 to $35,000, compared to $30,000 to $50,000 for a geothermal system, Walker estimated. …”

Great Falls Tribune

M.I.T. has studied the possiblility of using geothermal energy as a source of electricity production. Currently, homeowners and more extreme Do It Yourselfers can use geothermal to heat and cool their homes using heatpump technologies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/opinion/14wed2.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink