Geothermal energy: the good and the bad

Part 1: The Good

Sustainable

  • The number one advantage of geothermal energy is that it is a sustainable energy source. Unlike non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gas, and other carbon-based energy sources, geothermal energy is a renewable energy just like wind power, solar power, and wave power. etc The heat of the Earth is unlimited and therefore geothermal energy is also unlimited energy.

  • Once a ground source heat pump is installed, it will generate power for many years, without the need to replace the power source. Minor maintenance may be required on the heat pump, but the loop system will be good for decades as long as it is installed correctly.

environmental friendly

  • Geothermal energy is very environmentally friendly and is one of the main reasons why people around the world should make the switch. It does not pollute the air or water and therefore will not cause harm to our planet or our health. We can benefit from geothermal energy now and for future generations, while living in harmony with our natural environment.

It has the potential to help save a lot of money.

  • In the long run, geothermal energy will save us money. Once a geothermal power system is installed, it is very low maintenance cost, but can heat and cool an entire building for decades.

  • In most cases, the initial investment costs to install a geothermal system will break even in around 10 years. Therefore, this “free” energy source is not only worth the money, but will undoubtedly be worth even more in the future. More people using geothermal technology will drive prices down, because as demand increases, prices for parts and installation will drop as competition increases.

  • It doesn’t require ongoing repairs or mandatory yearly inspections like other ovens, which will also save you a lot of money in the long run.

Harmless

  • Using a ground source heat pump is incredibly safe (when properly installed by a qualified specialist). You don’t have to worry about being poisoned by dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, and it won’t catch fire like a wood stove, it won’t explode like natural gas or propane, and it doesn’t emit dangerous gases. radiation.

Constant rate of electric power

  • One of the main problems with alternative green energy solutions tends to be that they are somewhat unreliable. It may not blow, the sun may not shine (especially at night), and the ocean may be calm with few waves. But fortunately, this is not the case with geothermal power and energy, which produces a constant source of heat and cooling, regardless of the time of year, season, time of day, or outside temperature. It can produce a constant temperature of 60 F or 16 C at a depth of 6 feet or 1.8 meters, annually, 24/7!

unlimited supply

  • It may not be obvious, but geothermal energy offers an infinite supply of energy. The power source will probably never run out, not in a million years, and probably not even in a billion years, and it is available at all times, and it never goes out or stops providing power.

Could be used for a variety of purposes

  • Geothermal sites are found on every continent and can be used commercially and residentially to heat and cool buildings. But it can also be used for the generation of electricity through the use of geothermal power plants. Other uses would be hot spring baths or water heaters, but they would only depend on the location.

Part 2: The Bad

Initial costs are high

  • The high cost of installing a geothermal heating and cooling system is the biggest drawback. It is more expensive to install one of these systems compared to a natural gas, furnace or wood system.

Having a wide area is necessary

  • A fairly large property area is needed to install a geothermal heating system. In the case of a large backyard of a property, it will not be a big problem, but a geothermal heat pump system cannot be installed in a garden the size of a garden in a house in the city, at least not with loops. horizontal. Vertical lines can also be used, but it is considerably more difficult and expensive to pierce vertically relative to horizontal loops.

Power is still needed

  • A heat pump needs electricity to work. This is more of a ground source heat pump drawback, and yet should be taken into account when deciding if a ground source heat pump system is the way to go. The amount of electricity is not really that much, but if you go off the grid, it should definitely be taken into account.