Geothermal Energy Facts: Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons

Posted: Apr 27, 2008 | Comments: 25 | Views: 23,471 | Bookmark and Share

There is much talk about climate change, and the search for viable renewable energy sources. Everyone knows about the likes of solar, wind and wave power. But fewer have heard of geothermal, or know how does geothermal energy work. So here are some geothermal energy facts, which may help you understand the benefits and restrictions of geothermal energy.

How Does Geothermal Energy Work

The principle of this form of energy is quite simple. The ground beneath our feet gets heated by the sun on a daily basis. However, it is also a great insulator, and so retains a vast amount of this heat as stored energy. The idea is that pipes are run through a fairly large area of ground several feet down, where the temperature is more constant. Then, water is passed through the pipes, heating it.

The primary use for this type of energy is heating, as a regulated temperature can be achieved constantly with little variation dependent on time of year. It can also be used over larger areas to provide hot water, but this needs more time in the ground so more pipework and a greater area.

Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons

The advantages of geothermal energy are that once the initial investment is paid for, and energy is relatively free. And it's clean. There is little or no reliance on power from gas or electricity to provide heat, which is one of the main uses of energy in the home. The main need for electricity to run this system is for pumps to pump the water through the system. The advantages of geothermal energy are that it is cheap, once the ground works are done, and incredibly green energy. There are no emissions from the provision of heat for the home and water.

The disadvantages of geothermal energy are the initial expense and the amount of land required. It can cost thousands to dig out the land and lay the pipes. This is one of the geothermal energy problems and why it is not widely used. Another of the disadvantages about geothermal energy is that it requires a fair sized piece of land to implement. People with a fair-sized garden will be ok, but it is not possible to install in the yard of a Victorian terrace.

One possibility that some people use is a new system where pilings are drilled into the ground, with the pipe work in the foundations. Because pilings go much deeper into the ground, they gain the distance that is required underground to heat the water. This is great for new build homes, but obviously cannot be achieved in older homes.

How Many People Use Geothermal Energy

Because of the initial costs and need for space, geothermal energy is not widely used. It is becoming more popular in single builds however, and could provide an efficient method for providing heat for buildings such as apartments and new build housing estates through district heating systems or individual heating through pipes in the pilings. Because it is so expensive, it is unlikely that house building companies will install the systems in homes in the near future. But hopefully it could become the way we provide all our heat energy needs in the future.

(ArticlesBase SC #397739)

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    Comments on this article

    1
    1. Nicholas Liebe May 28, 2008
    I love the way that you stated all the facts about Geothermal Energy.
    3
    2. Jacey November 11, 2008
    This information helped me with my research paper in my chemistry class and illustrated a picture for me of how geothermal energy really works. Thanks a bunch
    6
    3. Jessica Miller November 12, 2008
    It teaches you a lot about the environment and how we can use it's energy to our advantages.
    0
    4. Brian February 23, 2009
    It's expensive because its a new idea...and we need new ideas because what we're doing isn't working.

    So the answer to us not using more efficient clean energy is that.."its really hard"?

    To me..thats no excuse...
    0
    5. Austin Berzett February 25, 2009
    This website is realy boring and if you want some good information you should not come here cuz it is so bad that it made me cry my eyes out
    -3
    6. Brian #2 February 26, 2009
    Very Boring Facts*This website is realy boring and if you want some good information you should not come here cuz it is so bad that it made me cry my eyes out*Git On Are LeveL NAO!!!!!!!!!!!
    4
    7. Ethan P March 05, 2009
    This article was great, it helped me a lot with my 12-page long school paper. Definitely 10/10, this is very informative.

    - Ethan
    -2
    8. Alex April 15, 2009
    Im concerned
    -2
    9. Alex L April 15, 2009
    your mom needs more energy
    -4
    10. joe butt April 29, 2009
    hehe thats not what i learned
    1
    11. GeoGeek May 06, 2009
    Geothermal is very efficient. It is only expenseive because the equipment required to capture it is not very effective.
    1
    12. GeoGeek May 06, 2009
    it seems to me that some of the comments are biased at an extreme level. why do people post this?
    -1
    13. bree May 18, 2009
    i got lots of info off here for my debate thanx and i won bcz of all the info
    -7
    14. Ali Tahir May 21, 2009
    I'm gay and I'm proud of it!

    :)
    2
    15. Allyson June 08, 2009
    The overall content isn't that bad, but doesn't mention that most of the geothermal heat comes from the Earth's core, not insulation from the Sun's heat. Since information on geothermal energy isn't very broad, this article would be alot more beneficial if it was more supported. And people posting the stupidest comments, totally takes away from your article.
    0
    16. Babushka June 11, 2009
    BABUSHKA NEEDS MORE ENERGY
    1
    17. David P. Tucci July 01, 2009
    Information about geothermal materials. What kind of piping material is the most efficient to bury in the ground and in a 10,000 square foot area, how much piping and in what pattern should it be laid.
    1
    18. GEOTHERMAL PAPER September 17, 2009
    really helped me on my ecology page, needs to mention that most water heated at earths core.
    0
    19. Ashley September 29, 2009
    i love gay people i'm bi
    -2
    20. Einstienofthebooks October 08, 2009
    To Austin Berzett and Brian #2:
    I really think you should get a job, stop doing your mom, and think before you speak, even on the internet. And no, I am not gay, bi, or anything else. And I am not an imbecile, unlike some people I am addressing.
    0
    21. sam October 09, 2009
    this website isnt user friendly and did me no help with my science project. i didnt get very good information from this site!
    -1
    22. Lisa January 14, 2010
    hi this wasnt good info. at all you all who did this are bitches
    and i mean it for real so dont do another
    website ever again in ur life
    -1
    23. Farshad January 18, 2010
    Hi everybody!
    The environmental aspect of the article was clear enough to understand but I think it is not correct to just say "The ground beneath our feet gets heated by the sun on a daily basis". In addition to the sun (which I am a bit hesitant about it !) the main power source for geothermal energy is the heat which is naturally generating inside the earth and actually in the earth's core. (It is something like 4000 C)
    1
    24. Lizzy January 19, 2010
    Yummy!!
    0
    25. boom January 21, 2010
    terrible very terrible
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