Geothermal Energy

 

Geothermal energy comes from heat stored in the earth.  Geothermal energy involves substantial up-front investment but is cost effective in the long term. Geothermal energy is in use around the world for space heat, swimming pools, spas,  industrial and agricultural applications. In Scandinavia, geothermal energy is used for district heating to serve entire neighborhoods, as well as for hot water pipes under roads and pavements to melt snow and ice.   Global geothermal heat pump capacity is growing by 10% per year.  Geothermal energy is also used to generate electricity, meeting about 0.3% of the world’s demand. 

 

When properly sized, sited and installed, geothermal systems provide a reliable, and –for the most part - environmentally friendly technology. Geothermal wells give off some greenhouse gases, but fewer by far than the burning of fossil fuels.  Large geothermal fields have given rise to structural problems in surrounding lands.  The safest, most common and cost-effective geothermal system is the ground-source heat pump.  The promise of geothermal energy is not in the technology by itself, but its use in conjunction with high-performance building and infrastructure design. For example, geothermal pumps can be powered by solar electricity to achieve nearly zero net energy for a building.  Designing effective systems of this kind requires some understanding of mechanical engineering, geology, and building science. Effective geothermal designers must also be able to balance cost containment with overall system efficiency and performance.  

 

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association  (http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu)  trains people at three levels:

Accredited Drillers

Accredited Installers

Certified GeoExchange Designers

 

To become an Accredited Installer you must complete the basic training and pass an open-book exam administered by IGSHPA. 

 

IGSHPA also offers an extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/geothermal/faq.htm