| Archaeological evidence establishes that | | | | major thermal spring in the USA. |
| the beginning of man's application of | | | | These geothermal energy springs can be |
| geothermal energy in North America came | | | | separated as low temperature (less than |
| about more than ten thousand years ago | | | | 90°C or 194°F), moderate temperature |
| with the settlements of Paleo-Indians at | | | | (90°C - 150°C or 194 - 302°F), and |
| natural geothermal energy springs. The | | | | high temperature (greater than 150°C or |
| natural geothermal energy springs | | | | 302°F). The roles which these resources |
| functioned as a reservoir of geothermal | | | | are given are also regulated by |
| energy for heat and purifying, using | | | | temperature. The highest temperature |
| their minerals as a source of | | | | sources are mostly utilized solely for |
| therapeutic healing. | | | | geothermal energy electricity |
| Although people still soak in shallow | | | | generation. Current U.S. geothermal |
| pools heated from the Earths core, | | | | energy power generation totals roughly |
| technologists are creating technologies | | | | 2200 MW or close to the equivalent of 4 |
| that will permit us to examine areas | | | | large atomic power plants. Uses for low |
| more than ten miles beneath the Earth's | | | | and moderate temperature sources can be |
| surface hunting for geothermal energy. | | | | separated into two classes: direct use |
| Currently in the United States | | | | and ground-source heat pumps. |
| Geothermal Energy accounts for 0.3 | | | | Direct use, as the name implies, |
| percent of power though experts predict | | | | requires applying the geothermal energy |
| this could rise to as much as 10% by | | | | in the water directly (without a heat |
| 2050. | | | | pump or power plant) for applications |
| Geothermal Energy is heat (thermal) | | | | such as heating of buildings, industrial |
| retrieved from the sub terrain depths of | | | | works, greenhouses, aquaculture (farming |
| the land. The thermal energy held in in | | | | of fish) and holiday resorts. Direct use |
| the rock of the earth and liquid (that | | | | projects more often than not use |
| occupies the cracks and pores inside the | | | | geothermal energy temperatures between |
| rock) in the earth's crust. | | | | 38°C (100°F) to 149°C (300°F). |
| Scientific calculations determine that | | | | Current U.S. Established capacity of |
| the earth, starting from an entirely | | | | direct use schemes totals 470 MW or |
| molten state, must have cooled off and | | | | sufficient enough to heat 40,000 |
| become entirely solid several thousand | | | | average-sized homes. |
| years ago without an energy stimulant in | | | | Ground-source heat pumps utilize the |
| addition to that of the sun. It is | | | | terra firma or groundwater as a heat |
| thought that the elemental source of | | | | source in wintertime and a heat sink in |
| geothermal energy is radioactive decay | | | | summertime. Utilizing geothermal energy |
| occurring deep within the earth | | | | temperatures of 4°C (40°F) to 38°C |
| (Burkland, 1973). | | | | (100°F), the heat pump, a mechanical |
| In most areas, this geothermal energy | | | | device which moves geothermal energy |
| reaches the surface in a very diffuse | | | | from one area to another, transposes |
| state. However, due to a variety of | | | | geothermal heat energy from the soil to |
| geological processes, some areas, | | | | the home in winter and from the house to |
| including substantial portions of many | | | | the soil in summer. |
| western states, are underlain by | | | | The current production of geothermal |
| relatively shallow geothermal energy. | | | | energy resources from all uses currently |
| Humans have utilized geothermal energy | | | | sits third amongst renewable energies, |
| in North America for more than 10,000 | | | | behind hydroelectricity and biomass, and |
| years. Paleo-American Indians used | | | | in front of solar and wind. Despite |
| thermal springs for cooking, and for | | | | these impressive statistics, the current |
| sanctuary and relief. Geothermal energy | | | | level of geothermal energy use pales in |
| springs were neutral areas where members | | | | comparison to its potential. The key to |
| of fighting nations would bathe | | | | wider geothermal energy use is greater |
| collectively in serenity. Native | | | | public awareness and technical support. |
| Americans have a history with every | | | | |