Even when you try to use water wisely, you my be wasting a good deal of this precious resource. Here are ideas and tips on how to wisely save water in your home.

Ways to Conserve Water for Consumption

The minimum individual requirement for water needed for consumption and cleaning is 4 gallons per day. Thus, you may be surprised to learn that an average family (2 adults and 2 children) uses somewhere between 250 & 400 gallons of water per day. Homes with outdoor irrigation, pools and spas use significantly more water.

Most of the water used in a home isn’t used for individual consumption (such as drinking and eating). Instead, it’s used for cleaning and watering. However, the biggest cost we make is for water we drink, rather than on water we use for cleaning and watering. This is due to our addiction to bottled and  purified water. For the uninformed few, bottled water is always a waste of money and resources. Did you know that bottled water costs up to 10,000 times more than tap water? But what exactly goes into the cost? It’s mostly bottling, transporting, packaging and sales.

One of the greatest environmental problems with bottled water is that it requires a great amount of energy to transport to the end consumer. While you might believe that the pristine water from a secluded spring is the best for you and your dear ones, think for a moment, of all the pollution and the waste of energy generated in the process.

A frugal and environmentally sustainable alternative (if you worry about the quality of water) is to install a purifying system. When you consider such system, look for one that only treats the water you plan to consume. After all, it makes no sense to filter water that goes to your dishwasher.

There are many other great ways to save water for consumption and many of them are relatively easy and inexpensive.

One change you can make is to use a two-valve faucet. Such faucet is more efficient than a single-valve style that unavoidably wastes hot water.

Using aerator filters in the faucets is yet another wonderful way to save water. These filters add air and keep up the pressure. Meanwhile they reduce flow volume. Most of the times, we need greater pressure and not greater flow volume. Many new building codes require low-flow faucets as they are a more intelligent solution.

Leaky faucets are incredibly wasteful. A faucet dripping once per second wastes up to 2,000 gallons of water annually. Leaking faucets can also cause aggravate or cause health problems due to mold and mildew that flourish in damp environments.

The largest cost is the wasted heat when hot water is drawn from the water heater. If your faucet is dripping, it may be drawing and wasting hot water.

Here are more water conservation tips:

Don’t use your garbage disposal because it requires a lot of water to run. This water ends up filling the sewer system far more than needed. Instead, consider a composter or throw the waste into your garbage.

Don’t waste cold water while waiting for the hot water! Instead, put a bowl or some other container under the faucet while you’re waiting for the water to get hot. Use this water for cooking or watering house plants.

It’s a big no-no to leave the tap running while you’re focused on another activity. When washing your face or brushing your teeth it is smart to turn the water off. You’d be surprised to learn that this small change can make a world of difference in water savings.

Ways to Conserve Water in Showers and Baths

Please take a look at many water saving tips and suggestions here

Ways to Conserve Water in Toilets

Toilets consume 45% of indoor water use. A running toilet can waste up to 4,000 gallons of water per year.

Don’t use the toilet as a waste basket.

Put a couple quart bottles filled with water in the tank. Each flush will use that much less water. Alternatively, use bricks or rocks.

Ways to Conserve Water For Your Lawn

A great way to save water (and energy) is to get rid of your lawn. Replace it with drought-resistant plants, and don’t water them that much. You can also replace your lawn with native plants or trees that grow and thrive in your climate without need for additional watering.

Ways to Conserve Water in Dishwashers

Use as little water as necessary to effectively rise dishes. Run a full load at all times. Skip the pre-rinse cycle and use the economy wash cycle.

Ways to Conserve Water in Washing Machines

Check your washing machine for leaks. Fix all leaks right away.

Use as little water as necessary to effectively wash the laundry. It is more efficient to wash full loads than partial loads. Adjust the water level to the lowest possible setting for the load size. For the minimum size loads, utilize a mini-basket insert that can fit over the agitator.

So, there you go. Happy water saving!

Source: Energy efficient homes for dummies

Hold your shower head. You should be aware that most of the water flowing from a shower head is wasted. Handheld shower headsprovideimproved focus, enabling you to achieve more with less.

Don’t use shower heads with the “mist” selection. They basically only humidify your residence. This is particularly wasteful during the summer time.

Put baths behind you. Baths are just massive resource wasters and they need to become a thing of the past. To put it simply, there is no such thing as an economical bath. In terms of water only, baths are twice as expensive as showers. Taking a bath uses at least 20 gallons of water. Meanwhile, a five-minute shower uses 10 gallons of water.

Shower together. Put your kids into the shower together. Take a shower together with your partner. It is both economical and fun.

Take shorter showers. To reach its full efficiency, a shower needs to serve its purpose—to get you cleaned. Meditating in the warm waterfall can be pleasing, but it wastes two precious resources: water and energy. You should explore other alternatives for relaxation. Start by removing or concealing all bathroom culprits that depict your shower as a relaxation spot such as radios, TVs, scenic views etc.

Install a grey water recycle system. This system recycles your home’s water. It works like this: A tank is connected to certain drains. After a sanitizing process is done, the water will be brought up to sanitation values appropriate for landscaping and washing.

The superior techniques can sanitize water sufficiently well to be consumed. Not only does grey water counterbalances the need for treating water to the maximum drinkable criteria; it may be valuable to plants as it’s likely to contain valuable nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen. The system is most economical when installed while building a new house, rather than upgrading an existing house.

Install a low flow shower head.  A shower will consume more water if an old, wasteful shower head is in use, as it delivers 4-5 gallons of water per minute. The Energy Policy Act sets maximum water flow rates at 2.5 gallons per minute. The approved shower heads are at or below this figure.

With an improved water flow,  a 10-minute shower will utilize 25 gallons of water, saving 5 gallons compared to a bath. An efficient shower head will also save on electricity (an estimated $145 per year)—being more economical than both the old-fashioned shower head and the bath. Low-flow shower heads are designed to save water, while creating more water pressure so that you are unaware that you’re getting less.

For more information and tips on how to save energy visit Energy Star website.

Learn More:

Programmable Thermostat Will Increase Energy IQ of Your Home

The Green Laudry Room: Energy Efficient Washer and Dryer

Boost Your Home’s Energy Efficiency: DIY Energy Audit Checklist

Eco friendly gadgets (also known as green gadgets) are electronic products have the some or all of the following traits:

• they have little or no harmful materials
• they can be recycled
• they are manufactured efficiently and locally
• they use energy as efficiently as possible

In a broad sense, the purported eco-friendliness means that during the entire life-cycle of the product it will have a minimal environmental impact while helping the user save energy and produce fewer carbon emissions.

Here is a collection of characteristic geothermal energy images from Iceland.

Being a part of Haukadalur Valley, Stokkur is an Iceland’s well-known geyser and major tourist attraction. It erupts every 4 to 8 minutes up to 40 meters high.

Here are worthwhile eco-friendly gadgets that can cut your energy use at home.

ReVIVE Solar Charger

Rechargeable battery chargers

One way to stop wasting energy and money on disposable batteries is to use a rechargeable battery charger. Look for these characteristics in battery chargers: charging speeds (these may vary from 15 minutes to several hours), brand mixing (charging one brand in another brand’s charger), smart sensors (these shut off the charger after the batteries are fully charged) and portability. For that extra kick of eco-mindfulness, look for sun-powered battery chargers that require little maintenance to operate and draw power from a renewable resource.

Smart Power Strip

Smart power strip

Electronics draw power even when they are in sleep mode or switched off. Avoid these “vampire loads” with a thoughtful device called the smart power strip. This eco friendly product saves energy and money by sensing the flow of electrical current throughout the strip’s control outlet, switching off selected outlets when appliances plugged into them are not being used.

Energy Detective

Energy Detective

This is a precise yet no-fuss eco friendly gadget that taps into your home’s circuit breaker. The Energy Detective will help you manage your energy habits by displaying how much power you’re using in real time. Discover how much each appliance is adding to your total power load by turning them on and off.

Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostat

Programmable thermostats are gadgets that help you save energy by letting you pre-program heating and cooling temperatures at home. What this gadget can do is up to you so use it smartly.

Learn More: Programmable Thermostat Will Increase Energy IQ of Your Home

Motion Detecting Light

Motion-detecting lights and switches

An economical and practical gadget that adds security and saves energy both indoors and outdoors. This gadget automatically turns lights on or off when you enter and leave the room. Simply screw the bulb into a socket for instant motion-detection.

Sensor-Plug Motion-Sensing Outlet

The SensorPlug Motion-Sensing Outlet

The SensorPlug is a passive infrared motion sensor that provides automatic on and off switching for everything that you plug into it when you walk in and out of a room. There is no need to wire it in since the Sensor Plug inserts right into a wall outlet.

 Dos and Don’ts for buying and owing eco-friendly gadgets:

• Don’t be overly gadget-conscious. Don’t buy new unless you cannot repair or upgrade the gadget you already own
• Don’t buy before assessing whether your choice is really eco-friendly by checking out Energy Star website or Greener Choices
• Do buy used, recycled and recyclable
• Do buy appropriately sized gadgets
• Do buy eco-friendly products with multifunctional attributes
• Do properly dispose, sell, trade or donate your used gadget.

 thermostat photo courtesy: advanced telemetry

1. The Homeowner’s Handbook to Energy Efficiency: A Guide to Big and Small Improvements

If you would like to make a difference by reducing your energy costs and carbon footprint, this book is a top choice. The book covers fundamentals of home energy such as HVAC systems, air-sealing, windows & doors, insulation and landscaping. Excellent illustrations help make concepts easy to understand. If you get overwhelmed by technical jargon, don’t worry as this book is written in an easy-to-understand language.

2. The Home Energy Diet

This book offers plenty of creative and fun ideas to reduce energy use without compromising on quality of life.Written by an energy auditor with an enthusiasm for efficiency, this book will help those who want to take control of their personal energy use while maintaining the environmental sustainability. Features chapters on energy literacy (“where does energy com from”), electricity, appliance energy use, hot water, HVAC, the envelope and appliance buying guide.

3. Homemade Money: How to Save Energy and Dollars in Your Home

This book will remove any misunderstanding, by giving brand names, detailed construction and remodeling techniques to maximize energy savings. The book is extremely well organized to help the readers decide among the huge number of suggestions.

4. Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies

If you are concerned about the complexity of work you may encounter while greening your home, this book will reassure you. It gives a basic advice to homeowners how to reduce costs and increase energy efficiency. Featuring introductory chapters on energy efficiency and energy sources and sinks, the book gradually introduces more advanced topics such as a do-it-yourself home energy audit guide and an excellent overview of alternative energy sources.

Passive Evaporative Cooling. Source: Jeremy Levine

5. Home Sweet Zero Energy Home

Excellent information for those individuals who want to develop (or learn about) zero energy homes. The book’s eleven chapters carry the plethora of information on creative ways to achieve a zero energy home including energy efficiency, passive design and renewable energy production.

6. Prefabulous + Sustainable: Building and Customizing an Affordable, Energy-Efficient Home

Here is the answer to your questions on prefab homes. The book is filled with wonderful and distinctive examples of homes to help you learn how factory-built residences are indeed greener, more efficient, more cost-effective and even more robust than site-built homes.

Installing eco-friendly insulation. Source: USDAgov

7. Insulate and Weatherize

This book is tailored to the needs of individuals who want to save energy by insulating and weatherizing their home. The homeowner’s many questions are answered through clear explanations, checklists and how-to advice.

8. Basics of Energy Efficient Living: A Beginner’s Guide to Alternative Energy and Home Energy Savings

If you are mystified by terms such as an “R-value” and “alternative energy”, this book will transform you into an educated consumer. The book takes the reader by the hand and walks through the entire process of learning what it takes to save energy, how much energy can be obtained from alternative sources and what are energy principles, helping you to gradually transform your dwelling into a green oasis.

9. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings: All New Listings of the Most Efficient Products You Can Buy

This book is for those who want to find the most energy efficient appliances. It is full with product ratings and explanations to assist the average shopper. Choose this book if you need help deciding which kind of energy efficient appliance to buy.

10. The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes

This book offers an easy to understand reference to homeowners who want learn about home energy efficiency. This book discusses the various alternative and sustainable building techniques. This is not a how-to guide, but rather an overview that can help you evaluate various green building procedures.

See also:

Boost Your Home’s Energy Efficiency: DIY Energy Audit Checklist

Stay Cool and Reduce Your Energy Bills This Summer

Green Your Lighting With Eco Friendly Light Bulbs

Figure 1.1. The source rock constitution as well as the level of partial melting decide the composition of primary magmas.

When volcanoes erupt, magma is extruded onto the Earth’s surface as lava and igneous rocks (“fire formed”) are developed. In terms of modes of their appearance, igneous rocks can be intrusive (plutonic) or extrusive (volcanic).

Intrusive or plutonic rocks form when magma cools and crystallizes within the planet’s crust. Surrounded by the pre-existing rock, this magma cools gradually, forming coarse grained rocks.

Extrusive or volcanic rocks form the when magma is extruded onto the Earth’s surface as lava and pyroclastic materials {Greek pyro (fire) and klastos (broken)}. These rocks cool and solidify more rapidly than intrusive igneous rocks forming fine grained rocks.

Due to the molten rock component, nearly all magmas are essentially liquids whose composition, temperature and viscosity vary considerably depending on the character of the volcanic eruption and the tectonic site of the volcano. Accumulation of magma within the lithosphere takes place in magma chambers, or reservoirs. Magma remains in a magma reservoir until it (a) travels into a different reservoir, (b) cools forming igneous rocks or (c) erupts as a volcano.

Magma in Kamoamoa Ahupua`a, Hawaii.
Photo credit: Paul Bica

Magma composition is commonly correlated with environments of magma formation. Even though a vast variety of magmas exist on the planet, magmas are a result of the creation of primary magmas termed basalts. Partial melting of the Earth’s mantle and crustal rock melting, regardless of the tectonic setting, will give rise to primary magmas. Production of basaltic magmas will indirectly culminate in the wide variety of magmas found in different tectonic sites. Basalts are distinguished by their low viscosity, high density, low volatile contents and high temperature. When the crust melts, however, the resulting magma is more silicic, lower in density and cooler with higher level of viscosity and volatile compounds, mainly water.

During partial melting, under particular conditions of temperature and pressure, minerals with low melting point will liquefy, while part of the crustal or mantle source rock will remain solid. Mantle and crustal source rocks are composed mainly of silicate minerals, whose chemical components, and their proportion in the melt will characterize the outcome of the primary magma mixture. Mantle-originated magma erupts in all tectonic environments, remarkably at oceanic islands, mid-ocean ridges, continental and oceanic arcs and continental rifts.

Composition of primary basaltic magmas varies depending on the nature of the source mantle which varies with tectonic setting (Figure 1.1). The conditions of pressure and temperature at which partial melting occurs, also dependent on tectonic setting, are different. They also influence the composition of the resulting primary melts, since the composition of the source rocks and the conditions of melting are different in each case. The chemical composition of magma, including the presence of volatiles, will strongly influence its physical properties, specifically its rheology and the nature of eruption.

If used intelligently, a programmable thermostat will keep your home at the desired temperature, save you energy dollars and make you feel good about helping the environment. Credit: Advanced Telemetry

Having programmable thermostats non-programmed wastes more money that their owners bargained for. What’s more important, if programmable thermostats aren’t used the way they’re intended, homes with programmable thermostats will use more energy than homes without them.

A best validation of this was the decision of the federal government three years ago that abolished the entire programmable thermostat category from their popular Energy Star program. The clarification? The EPA said that the estimated potential of programmable thermostats was significantly higher than their achieved energy savings.

“EPA has been unable to confirm any improvements in terms of the savings delivered by programmable thermostats and has no credible basis for continuing to extend the current Energy Star specification.”

In 2009, EPA abolished the programmable thermostat category from the Energy Star program.

Why is that? The EPA Energy Star program refers to data that programmable thermostats didn’t achieve the net energy savings and environmental benefits. The future success of the program may depend on the effectiveness of the efforts that educate people on proper use of thermostats.

It is important to note that EPA isn’t advising people against owing a programmable thermostat. The reality is far from that. EPA conveys its position by asking potential buyers of thermostats to first establish whether they need them at all. It further assists them in the choosing and correct handling of PTs.

According to EPA, programmable thermostats come with many advanced features that we should look for. But let’s put these aside for one moment.

The most important thing, EPA advises, is to think about our own lifestyle. Sleek design and cool features do matter, but shopping for a thermostat starts by looking at our habits: daily, weekly and seasonal. You should ask yourself: What is my schedule? When do I get off work? Am I often away from home for regular periods of time?

Programmable Thermostats: Three Models

Depending on your answers one of these three models will fit your needs: the 7-day, the 5+2-day, or the 5-1-1-day.

Households which daily schedule tends to change on some days will benefit from 7-day PT. You or your children may come home earlier on certain days. The 7-day will give you the flexibility of setting different programs and up to six temperature periods per day each day in a week.

The second one (5+2) is for families that have the same weekday schedule, and a different one on weekends.

5+1+1. The family schedule for this one is the same as for the 5+2. With this model, however, weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) can be independently programmed.

A word of warning: EPA advises against purchasing of programmable thermostat if you are not away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. If you are at home all day (say, you work from home) this gadget will not save you much energy and you might be better off with your ceiling fan only.

Programmable Thermostats: Useful Features

Depending on the model, a programmable thermostat can have many remarkable features. Lets visit some of them:

Wi-Fi Connection

Nest Learning Thermostat

This feature enables you to control your home’s temperature from your laptop or computer of you connect your PT to Wi-Fi. This feature enables you to observe and analyze your heating/cooling schedule and adjust your temperature. Your device can link to weather services and send information to your online account, so you can view this information and adjust your temperature accordingly. A popular Nest comes with this feature.

Hold/Vacation mode

This feature should be activated before you leave for your vacation. Your home will stay at the desired temperature until you return.

Air Filter Indicator

PTs may also have a programmable air filter change reminder. It calculates the accumulated run-time of the system, reminding the owner when it is time to change the filter. The feature may display the run-time either as a total of both cooling and heating or displaying the run-time separately.

Adaptive/Smart Recovery

This control senses the amount of time it will take to reach the next desired temperature, starting the cycle in advance to let the system achieve the accurate temperature at the preferred time.

Portable Comfort Control

In many homes, especially larger homes, there’s an enormous difference between the temperature at the thermostat and in remote rooms. If you bring the controller to any room, the PT will ensure that the room is heated to the exact temperature of your choosing, saving you energy-dollars.

Digital, backlit display

This display allows easy reading, even in rooms that are dimly lit.

Touch screen

This feature enables direct interaction with your thermostat simplifying its operation and use.

Voice and/or phone programming

This feature is particularly useful for visually impaired, disabled or anyone who has trouble seeing and operating regular PT.

How to Use Your Programmable Thermostat: Dos and Don’ts

• Do keep the temperature set at energy savings temperatures periods of at least 8 hours when the home is empty during the day and through the night.

• Don’t use the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage day to day temperature settings. These features are good if you will be away for an extended period. Don’t leave the “hold” feature at the “comfort” setting when you’re away. Set it at several degrees warmer temperature during summer moths and several degrees cooler during the winter months.

• Do temporarily make an area cooler or warmer (override is routinely cancelled at the next program period) but don’t not habitually “hold” or override the pre-adjusted settings.

• Don’t have only one thermostat if your home has multiple heating or cooling zones. Instead, get a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to achieve best savings and comfort to your residence.

• Don’t increase the temperature to 90+ degrees Fahrenheit or to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will not heat or cool your house any faster. This is not how programmable thermostats work. Most thermostats begin to heat or cool at a set time, subsequently reaching the desired temperature. PTs with adaptive recovery are an exemption to this guideline. These thermostats keep track of the seasons by studying the behavior of the previous few days. They calculate the amount of time required to heat/cool the house, so that it reaches that temperature when the homeowner desired it. In this way, the home is saving the most energy when empty.

• Do change the batteries of your programmable thermostat. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed.

If used correctly, programmable thermostats commonly save 20 percent in energy bills. Of course, this will vary depending on the age and efficiency of your HVAC and the cost of the energy used. In general, the higher your cost of heating per BTU, the bigger your energy savings are going to be.

Superior programmable thermostats combine some or all of the great features stated above. If used intelligently, your programmable thermostat will keep your home at the desired temperature, save you energy dollars and make you feel good about helping the environment. That is to say, it will bring you the contentment on many levels.

To learn more on programmable thermostats go to the Energy Star Web site (www.energystar.gov).

Learn More:

Best Home Energy Efficiency Books

Boost Your Home’s Energy Efficiency: DIY Energy Audit Checklist

Stay Cool and Reduce Your Energy Bills This Summer

Green Your Lighting With Eco Friendly Light Bulbs

photo credits: Fryer

I this article we will juxtapose the most prominent geothermal energy pros and cons based on environmental and economic considerations. We will draw a conclusion based on the results of this inquiry.

Geothermal Energy Pros: Environmental Considerations

From an environmental point of view there are quite compelling arguments in support of geothermal energy.

Geothermal energy is considered a very clean, abundant and inexhaustible energy source. Burning fossil fuels carries an enormous security, environmental, economic and health cost. A variety of substances released by the combustion of fossil fuels including sulfur, nitrogen and carbon contribute to local and global problems like urban smog, acid rain and climate change. On the contrary, geothermal sources release insignificant amounts of pollutants thus helping mitigate the environmental pollution.

Geothermal energy is considered a renewable and sustainable resource. Geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource because there is no risk that the “Earth’s heat” will ever be exhausted. Geothermal energy is also deemed sustainable, because it has the capability to preserve the Earth’s ecosystems. By using geothermal energy, present generations of humans will not endanger the ability of subsequent generations to use their own resources to the same amount that they are presently utilized.

Geothermal energy is considered a sustainable source of energy because it has the potential to preserve the Earth’s delicate ecosystems.

Geothermal energy needs a small land area. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) plants need significantly less land area per installed MW or delivered MWh when compared with fossil-fueled or even solar-electric plants. Further, such land is not completely occupied by the geothermal plant and may be utilized for cattle-raising or farming. Since EGS plants are not automatically tied to a hydro-thermal area, these sites can be populated, what is a great advantage over conventional plants.

Geothermal Energy Cons: Environmental Considerations

On the minus side, the use of geothermal energy is associated with the following environmental impacts: gaseous and solid emissions, pollution (water and noise), subsidence, landslides, disturbance of natural hydrothermal occurrences, impact on wildlife habitat, vegetation and natural vistas. It is good to know that the above noted environmental impacts are associated with larger geothermal energy developments. The known environmental impacts from direct use and geothermal heat pumps are considered negligible.

Gas emissions. Gaseous emissions result from the discharge of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Methane, hydrogen, sulfur dioxide, and ammonia may appear too but in smaller amounts. Nevertheless, geothermal plants (flash and steam) emit much less carbon dioxide per MWh than fossil-fueled power plants. Binary plants emit none. The body of data illustrates that geothermal plants are far more environmentally friendly than the other standard fossil-fuel powered plants.

Water pollution. Geothermal fluids from drilling and production may include many minerals (including boron and arsenic), and their amount increases with temperature. Their penetration into nearby water aquifers is prevented by well casings with multiple strings to supply barriers between the well and the nearby environment.

Solids pollution. A chance of contamination by the discharge of solids from the geothermal fluids into the surrounding area is practically zero. The only imaginable situation would be due to a catastrophic accident that involved a mineral recovery system or fluid treatment that discharged eliminated substances into the nearby area.

Negative effect on local flora, fauna and aesthetics. Local plants and animals and the scenic views will be affected by the construction of plants and the pipelines that carry geothermal fluids. These impacts can be mitigated with careful planning and management. Undeniably, the scenic views will be altered by the construction of facilities where none existed before. One way to manage the impacts is to avoid the construction in areas of exceptional natural appeal.

Subsidence. Subsidence was observed early in the history of geothermal power in the Wairakei field in New Zealand where re-injection was not utilized. In this case, subsidence was similar to mining activities at small depths where extracted minerals left a space that manifested itself as subsidence. Learning from this experience, geothermal developments worldwide adopted reservoir management to avoid possible risks.

Noise pollution. Noise pollution is commonly associated with industrial operations. The noise levels from geothermal industry range from 80 to 115 decibels and are produced during the drilling, testing and stimulation. At the boundary of the site, the drilling sound may reach levels of 115 decibels. During regular operations levels of noise range from 71 to 83 decibels at distance of 900 m. These levels are quite reasonable. As a comparison, an area of a crowded city has noise levels ranging from 70 to 85 decibels.

Landslides at geothermal fields. The causes of observed landslides at geothermal fields are often unresolved. It is commonly considered that many geothermal fields are built on landscapes that are naturally susceptible to landslides. While landslides may be triggered by earthquakes, it is unlikely that geothermal production and injection alone could induce landslides.

Geothermal projects require access to water. Water is needed during several stages of development and operation of geothermal projects. In EGS projects water is required during drilling, stimulation and circulation. Used water is normally re-circulated after being filtered and cooled.

In this part we explore how geothermal energy works in practical applications, that is, how this energy source gets translated into useable power.

Geothermal energy has three main applications.

1.   Direct use

2.  Geothermal heat pumps

3.   Electricity generation

In this segment we look at how geothermal energy is used directly. We will also review the myriad of direct uses for geothermal energy. In Part II, we discuss geothermal heat pumps. Finally, in Part III, we explore how geothermal energy works to produce electricity.

How Geothermal Energy Works in Direct Use?

Direct use (direct heat, direct-piped) of geothermal technology is the oldest, quite simple and the most widespread form of use of geothermal energy. People have been using geothermal energy in this way since the Paleolithic. Direct use means that the warm water or steam from the ground is piped into the residence or other construction to supply heat. The direct-use technology rests on a very simple principle: a well is drilled into a geothermal supply of warm water, water is pumped out and circulated through a radiator to provide heat. The used water is disposed of.

The technology of direct-use is fairly uncomplicated and inexpensive because the geothermal source is very close to the Earth’s surface. Due to its simplicity, this application is considered more economical and efficient than geothermal electricity generation. Several factors, however, may affect the effectiveness of direct use: the temperature of the water, the distance between the well and the place of utilization as well as the quantity of water that can be utilized effectively.

Direct Use Applications

There is a wide variety of applications for direct use of geothermal energy. In 2004, more than 50% of direct heat geothermal energy was used for space heating, 30% was used for spas and the rest was used by industry, agriculture and in domestic water heating.

Direct heat can be used in either district-heating systems or space-heating systems. The latter supplies only one building, whereas the former serves multiple buildings from a collection of wells. Direct heating is highly advanced in Iceland with the total capacity of the district-heating system of 800 MW. While the example of Iceland is very successful, it is important to notice that many factors decide the overall potential of a heating system and include the local climate, individual conditions, the type of geothermal resource, the population density & growth and the type of buildings.

Greenhouse heating is one of the most common direct-use applications of geothermal energy. Geothermal energy helps extend growing seasons of fruits, flowers and vegetables, allowing them to grow year-round in geothermally heated greenhouses. In 2003, there were at 37 geothermal-heated greenhouse operations in the US.

Excellent yields of fish can be maintained throughout the year thanks to geothermal heating.

Aquaculture is a direct use geothermal application that involves growing of water organisms. Thanks to geothermally heated water, excellent yields of fish can be produced under favorable settings. Another advantage of geothermal aquaculture is that it allows breeding in  the winter months enabling fish farmers to harvest their products when prices are high and fish availability is low. Because of geothermal groundwater aquifers, Kent SeaTech facility located in California allows up to 8.5 months of open-pond growing season.

Balneology (therapeutic bathing) involves the use of geologically heated water or mud for bathing and is believed to have medicinal properties. Therapeutic bathing is many centuries old, practiced by Romans, Greeks, Turks, Japanese and Koreans among others.

Direct Use Around the World

Iceland is renowned for its use of geothermal energy with direct-use as its main application. 90% of buildings in Iceland are heated with geothermal energy, and its extensive use is due to the favorable geological location of Iceland. Direct use hot water heats all of the buildings in Reykjavík, the Iceland’s largest city, where about 50% of the Iceland’s residents live. Geothermal hot water heats outdoor swimming pools and melts the snow on parking lots and sidewalks. Direct heat has, too, found application in many isolated, rural Iceland homes.

Geothermal vents in Iceland. Iceland is famous for its rich geothermal resources and direct use is the most common way Icelanders utilize geothermal energy.

In France, there are two areas where low-grade geothermal resources are available. Both are exploited via direct-piped geothermal technology. The larger program is located in Paris where geothermal energy is used for residential heating. A smaller program is located in the Aquitaine Basin, in southwestern France. The Aquitaine program has applications in residential heating, agriculture and aquaculture. Around 200,000 homes in France are heated with geothermal water from geothermal reservoirs.

In the US, the state of Idaho makes use of its abundant geothermal resources in direct heat applications. Geothermal energy is used to heat greenhouses and in aquaculture for growing species that are not native to the area. Boise, Idaho is a place of the US first geothermal heating district (operating since 1892) where hundreds of homes are using direct-piped system.

Bibliography

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