As the price of fuel and oil rises and becomes scarcer, the human race must find new sources of energy. This subject is discussed a lot these days as the search for the "free energy" continues and there are many new types of energy becoming available to the public.
The use of renewable energy sources is on the rise, especially with its green and economical credentials. Some of them make use of everyday objects such as the sea, land, sun and wind to generate energy in a way that doesn't harm the environment.
In the U.S. the use of geothermal energy is building, it is described to many people as "Free heat at our feet". Geothermal energy is the heat of the earth which is collected by pumping water through long pipes under the ground. This heated water is then is then put through a machine, called a ground source heat pump, that condenses the heat in the water. This can then be used to heat a house or produce electricity.
The growing interest in this sort of energy is due to government grants, low running costs and because its renewable. I spoke to Dr. John Lund of the U.S. national renewable energy laboratory who told me he only spends U.S.D. $10 a month on his utility bills as he has geothermal in his house.
As of August 2008, 103 new projects are under way in 13 U.S. states. When developed, these projects could potentially supply up to 3,979 MW of power, meeting the needs of about 4 million homes. At this rate of development, geothermal production in the United States could exceed 15,000 MW by 2025.
So geothermal is helping to cut carbon emissions, its use is growing and as soon as people hear about its economical benifits they will become intrested.
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