Science

Published on January 18th, 2019 | by Sunit Nandi

0

Make the Environmental Tech Update: Geothermal Heating & Cooling

Join the 21st Century: Update Your Heating & Cooling Energy Source

Humans and the pets we love require reliable temperature regulation. And that takes a lot of energy. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 42 percent of US home energy output and approximately 36 percent of commercial property energy spending goes to space heating [1]. Most of the world continues to rely upon burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, natural gas and propane. But over one million US properties have now opted for a greener, cheaper technology: geothermal energy.

“The evidence of human-caused climate change is overwhelming and continues to strengthen, that the impacts of climate change are intensifying across the country, and that climate-related threats to Americans’ physical, social, and economic well-being are rising.”- 4th National Climate Assessment, 2018

Take a Clear Climate Change Action

Two significant Federal government announcements have energy tech enthusiasts offering global responses:

When the Federal government released the 2018 National Climate Assessment (NCA) it made clear the scientific consensus: our planet continues to warm, effects on the environment are being witnessed, and there is a price we all can expect to pay for it:

“Climate change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth over this century.” [2]

Poland’s Katowice Climate Change Conference, held in December 2018, called on each of us to Take Climate Action [3]. With a current US administration shying away from scientifically recommended environmental action, private companies and American citizens have begun taking climate actions into their own hands.

Considering the Upgrade: What You Should Know About Geothermal Energy

A Geothermal energy source does not pollute, is free, is renewable, and collects 75% of the energy needed out of the ground. To heat or cool a property using Geothermal technology, energy and heat are taken directly from the ground in the Earth’s crust and redirected to be used as heating and cooling air and water in your home. Geothermal heat pumps connected to buried pipes are used in a system known as geothermal loops and exchanges.

It’s an HVAC technology over one million US homes have now upgraded to, and the significance on our carbon footprint provides only one of the many wins with geothermal energy updates.

The Benefits of Geothermal Energy: Money & The Environment

It’s definitely worth noting that even the EPA points to existing and emerging geothermal heating and cooling technologies as among the most environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and cost-effective comfort and temperature systems available. Here’s how that translates into reality:

  • For every 100,000 households utilizing a geothermal heat pump system, electricity consumption gets reduced by almost 800 million kilowatt hours annually
  • Upgrading a standard HVAC system to geothermal = the environmental impact of planting 750 trees, according to the EPA
  • Compared to conventional units, Geothermal heating reaches between 30 to 70 percent savings for homeowners
  • Geothermal system installation across the nation would reduce energy costs by billions of dollars while simultaneously reducing pollution, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office
  • Foreign oil imported by The US could be reduced by 2.15 million barrels annually for every 100,000 homes that update to geothermal heat pump technologies
  • Where geothermal systems are used in US schools, energy expenses are reduced by a combined $25 million dollars annually

Geothermal heating and cooling options clearly come with significant benefits to our planet & wallets.

Top Tech Upgrade: Geothermal Heating & Cooling Replacement

The technology has emerged. Nearly all the energy needed to heat and cool a home or business sits in the ground beneath our feet. Geothermal energy installation as a primary replacement for outdated technologies will be used both on and off planet as we continue to channel renewable energy sources toward our need for climate regulation.

There’s never been a more pressing time to consider where the bulk of your energy comes from. The first step toward a geothermal update comes with an evaluation of your home or business property. A licensed geothermal heating and cooling company can answer questions, save you money, and preserve our vulnerable Earth.


References:

  1. https://www.epa.gov/rhc/renewable-space-heating
  2. https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/
  3. https://unfccc.int/achieving-the-sustainable-development-goals-through-climate-action

Tags: , , , , , ,


About the Author

Avatar photo

I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to Top ↑