The Geothermal Initiative

• “In the United States, buildings account for:

39% of total energy use
12% of the total water consumption
68% of total electricity consumption
38% of the carbon dioxide emissions”

• Data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The Geothermal Initiative is a group, dedicated to helping communities develop and install geothermal heating/cooling technologies in their built environments with the ultimate goals of energy savings, a healthier local economy, and environmental sustainability. There are some challenges to installing geothermal heat pump systems. We are focused on the solutions that make these systems accessible to everyone.

Geothermal heat pump systems are not a new technology. They are already out there, tried and true. In 1998 the U.S. Department of Energy published this statement “Geothermal heat pumps are among the most energy- and cost-efficient heating and cooling systems available today. They use less electricity and produce fewer emissions than conventional systems, reduce air and water pollution, and provide a comfortable indoor environment for building occupants.”

Former Vice President Al Gore has one in his Nashville, TN home, and our current President George Bush has one in his Crawford, TX ranch. If Democratic and Republican leaders can agree on this subject… ?! The question we should be asking ourselves is not “why should we be installing geothermal heat pump systems in our built environment?,” but rather “why don’t most of us already have geothermal systems in our homes and businesses?”

Impediments to installing geothermal systems include the higher front-end costs of these systems, and the lack of local resources to install them. We are finding and developing new solutions, which overcome these and other issues to make geothermal an economical and readily available choice for our built environment.

Benefits of The Geothermal Initiative:

• Significantly reduced carbon emissions
• Decreased dependence on foreign fuel sources
• Economic assistance through reduced heating and cooling energy costs
• New green businesses and jobs
• Long term economic benefits for citizens, business, and government

The Geothermal Initiative is a very “Green” solution because it’s not only environmentally sound, but also good business.

Information:

• How Geothermal Works:

http://www.geocomfort.com/?page=Geothermal_Technology/How_Geothermal_Works

http://www.waterfurnace.com/how_it_works.aspx

• U.S. Dept. of Energy

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12640

• U.S. Dept. of Energy Report – from TEN YEARS AGO!

http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/geo_001416.pdf

• Fact Sheet from Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Washington D.C.

http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/geo_001413.pdf

Project Examples:

• Realize that energy costs have risen significantly since these projects were completed
• Some Projects in the Chicago Area:

http://www.indieenergy.com/?q=projects

• Fond du Lac High School - Geo System Installed in 2001:

http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/geo_act_sch_001349.hcsp

• Alliant Energy Example Geothermal Projects:

http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/geo_act_index.hcsp

Contact Us:
GeoInitiative@wi.rr.com