Facts About Geothermal Heating
Geothermal heat originates deep in the earth's core, where temperatures can rise to over 9000 degrees F. The mantle, or surrounding layer of rock, picks up the heat and transfers it to underground stores of water, which can bubble up to the surface. People around the world have long used such heated water to bathe and heat buildings.
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Hot Springs
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A common and ancient way to directly use geothermal heat consists of bathing in hot springs. The natural temperature of the water can exceed 300 degrees F.
Space Heating
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Space heating single buildings or entire districts represents another common use of geothermal heat. District systems pump naturally heated water through heat exchangers to heat city water, which then flows through pipes to heat buildings. Such systems exist in countries like Russia, Sweden, Romania, Iceland, and in our own states of Oregon and Idaho.
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Farming and Agriculture
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Growers can use direct geothermal heat to raise their crops in greenhouses during winter. Farmers can pasteurize milk, dry onions, and wash wool. Fish farms can raise their stock in a shorter time.
Drilling Wells
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Modern technology has made possible the drilling of wells into underground reservoirs to bring water up and use it to generate electricity.
Power Generation
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The hot water, heat, or steam spins generators in geothermal power plants, and the water is recycled deep into the underground reservoir for reheating. Producing power this way represents a clean, cheap, and reliable method that does not involve burning fossil fuels, toxic waste, or air emissions.
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