![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Geothermal
Geothermal energy is produced from the constant temperature of
the earth. This can be accessed by drilling into the earth and
extracting that heat and turning it into useable energy. Geothermal
energy is an enormous underused resource that provides clean renewable
energy in virtually unlimited supplies.
Geothermal energy can be broken into three major categories.
Power Plants: Deep deposits of steam can be tapped to drive turbines and produce electricity. Electricity derived from these types of geothermal resources are common in the western U.S. and Hawaii, but not in New England.
Direct Use: Direct use applications involve tapping hot water in a geothermal reservoir close to the surface for applications from space heating to melting ice and snow on sidewalks and parking lots. Similar to power plant resources, most of the geothermal resources for this application are located in the western U.S. and Hawaii.
Ground Source Heating and Cooling: Ground source
heating and cooling can be done anywhere in the U.S. This is done
with a geothermal heat pump which is a highly efficient renewable
energy technology that takes advantage of the constant temperature
of the earth beneath the surface. The heat pump transfers heat
stored in the Earth or in ground water into a building during the
winter, and transferring it out of the building and back into the
ground during the summer. The ground, in other words, acts as a
heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer. Applications are
for space heating and cooling, and hot water.
Many residential and commercial operations in New England operate with ground source heating and cooling systems including Trinity Church and the Massachusetts Audubon Nature Center in Boston.
