Using Geothermal Energy for your Home

The earth absorbs more than 30% of the sun’s heat radiation incident in it in the form of infra red rays. This heat is captured and stored by it in its various components like the surface and underground water, rocks and other minerals and elements present in its different layers. This energy can be tapped and used for various purposes in our homes. Some of the common usage of geothermal energy in our homes, are given below.

We can use the heat generated from the earth’s surface for keeping our homes warm and cosy. This is very useful during extreme heat or extreme cold weather which is a commonly endured by many countries. We can use the geothermal energy of the earth, by tapping the heat using various different techniques.

The basic technique includes passing a geothermal fluid through a pipe into the crust of the earth, and absorbing the heat tapped there, this heated fluid is then passed through the pipe into the house thus conducting the heat into the house. The pipe used can be of metal or non metal, depending on the heat conducting fluid that we are using inside the pipe.

The fluid in the pipe is circulated through the pipe in cycles, bringing in cooler fluid and taking out warm fluid to transfer it on to the required place. Such pipes can be used in two different methods – geothermal heat pumps and geoexchange energy wells.

When the earth is used as source of heat the pipe brings heat into the house and when the earth is used as sink heat is taken from the house making it cool. The cycle can continue until we require and the energy required for running this cycle is also very low. Thus pollution free heaters as well non carbon emitting coolers can be obtained.

It is also observed that the cost of operation for such system is meagre compared to the electric room heaters and air conditioners used at present.

Another use of geothermal energy is by using dry steam in the pipes that are circulated in the house. The heated steam can be used to heat and cool the house. This heated steam can also be used to turn turbines to produce electricity to run electrical appliances of the house and also light the house. It can also be used to keep any greenhouse of the house warm. Dry steam can be used for cooking also. We can use dry steam to dry washed clothes during winter and rainy seasons.

When we use water in the pipes the heated water can be used directly to take bath, as we use solar water heaters, cook and also run turbines to produce electricity. The hot water also can be used directly to wash clothes, and in dishwasher.

Cooling systems can be used in refrigeration of different food items also. They can also be used during summer to keep the house cool.
It has been observed that the energy thus produced does not emit unwanted gases and is renewable.

The connection can be kept online 97% of the time without thinking of wastage as the wastage is minimal.