Home » Forums » Clean Power Alternatives » Geothermal & Ground Source Power

Geothermal Power

Charlston

I've been hearing some mention of the ability to get power via geothermal energy from a ground source heat pump. Does anyone know exactly how this works. How much power could you actually output from this? Is this viable for supplying any real-world power options (e.g. home heating or supplying energy for small power supplies)?

Charlston


Submitted by Charlston on Sat, 03/24/2007 - 15:43.

Jeff Schultz
Re: Geothermal Power

For all intents and purposes, geothermal is the way to go in new construction. Retro fitting in some applications can be a little tricky, albeit doable. As far as payback period, all depends which temperate zone you are domiciled in. I would like to know if anyone out there has a line or has heard of anyone working on a geo thermal powered flux line generator? If so please inform as I am trying to develop and would like some insight or input. Thanks in advance.


Sun, 10/07/2007 - 12:37

TedJ
Re: Geothermal Power

 

I can not say enough good about Geothermal.  While it is true that it cools better than it heats, my system still saves a great deal of money and energy in the Winter.  I am in Minnesota--so heating does become important!  This is a no brainer and anyone doing new construction should do it if at all possible.  My retrofit had about 10 year payback or 9% return--for new construction or if you need to upgrade a furnace or AC system than this is a great investment. 

In certain regions this is the best solution... 

 

 

 


Tue, 10/02/2007 - 14:10

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: Geothermal Power

geo solar, I just read about some new patents and awards for homes designed using geo energy and solar. Combining technology simple and complex some passive some active is a great answer.
Check it out.
http://www.enertia.com/

--

solar stacks


Thu, 06/07/2007 - 15:44

Greentalk
Re: Geothermal Power

Hi. I have a geothermal system in my house and I live in the northeast. Your savings comes in your air conditioning bill. I was told that there is a 20 percent savings in your heating over gas. If you are going to put in one of these systems in the northeast or where it gets colder than 20 degrees alot, put in a high efficiency back up system. Geos don't do as well when it gets cold. I do not have this and if it goes to the back up, it is pure electricity which is really expensive. It does not go to backup that much because of my insulation but we had a good winter and my electric bill really went up.

My house is heavy insulated with icynene so I feel the combination of the heavy insulation and geothermal provides me with the energy savings that I get. I run my system at 76 degrees in the summer and am quite comfortable. Again, I think this is due to the insulation.

You can also get a system that is tied to your water heater and it dumps the heat of the system into the water heater during the summer or your pool. This will allow you to have a lower bill in the summer and a place for the geo to dump your heat.

I am new construction so if you are thinking of retrofitting it may be too costly vs the payback. Worth checking out. It is expensive to drill the loop for the geo unless you have a pond. Then you can have an open loop which is cheaper. Another plus, there are no dripping condensors outside!!! No hum of the condensors is wonderful. Hope this helped. anna hackman, www.green-talk.com


Wed, 05/30/2007 - 08:27

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: Geothermal Power

Geo thermal is a simple method of taking stable ground temperatures and using them to cool or heat a home or even a large univeristy. This has been done in many places. In fact Ice Land uses the heat in the ground to help heat homes and produce energy to make hydrogen. Just google icelan hydrogen.

In areas where it is very cold in winter the ground temperature stays about 68 degrees F. A heat pump with long pipes running into the ground can make it's heat efficiently from that moderate temperatire. In Syracse where I grew up LeMoyne College did that and saves lots of money as well as not making pollution. In Summer they use that same stable temperature to cool. It's smart and simple. see
http://www.nyserda.org/Press_Releases/press_archives/2002/05_20_02.asp

solar stacks

--

solar stacks


Sat, 05/26/2007 - 19:49

Naida
Naida's picture
Geothermal

I've also heard about this, but don't know how much power it can generate. Here's a link to one that I found which seems to have a good explanation as well:

http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/HVAC/geothermal-heat-pumps


Sat, 03/24/2007 - 19:27