Geothermal energy is the Earth’s heat. It is the end result of the fusion of dust and gas which happened about four billion years ago.

Deep inside the earth’s core and approximately about 4,000 miles deep, the temperature is about 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal energy has been used for everything from bathing to relaxation and cooking as well as heating. The first geothermal generator was created in Italy at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1912 the United States followed with their attempt at creating geothermal power with The Geysers in California. The energy is now produced in over 21 countries of the world.

You can find geothermal energy deep in the ground. The heat at the core of the Earth flows outwards. When it flows the heat is transferred to surrounding rock layers known as the mantle. When temperatures and pressures increase, the rock then melts and becomes magma. Magma then moves to the surface of the earth and takes along the heat with it. If magma gets to the surface of the earth it becomes lava otherwise it stays below the earth’s crust and heats up the rocks and surrounding water. These temperatures can get as high as 700 degrees Fahrenheit. When water travels to the surface it becomes hot springs or geysers. Most of this water however gets trapped in fractured and porous rocks which are known as geothermal reservoirs. The heat also becomes a form of energy.

Hot water or steam that comes from a reservoir can easily exert a force that spins a turbine connected to the generator in order to produce electricity. Cooled water is then returned to the reservoir in order to reheat. In order to determine other locations of geothermal underground waters further research, exploration and testing are required. When the necessary spots have been located, drilling can then be carried out in order to create the production wells that supply water to the surface of the earth in order to generate power in geothermal plants.

The costs of constructing geothermal plants and geothermal wells are quite high, the costs of producing electricity tends to be much less over time. The fuel is reliable and stable and has no need for transportation. White smoke that is seen over geothermal power plants isn’t smoke but steam. During operations however, hazardous gases may be brought up from the underground.

The United States is the biggest global producer of geothermal energy. Unfortunately the global interest in geothermal energy is low and only accounts for a small portion of the global energy supply. Research and experience will produce new means and technologies that will aid you in accessing geothermal energy. Renewable energy sources must become the major source of energy in the years to come. Fossil fuels are constantly being depleted and reducing the quality of air that we enjoy. Over time geothermal energy might become much more attractive. Reduction in the costs of implementation of this energy source might in time lead to a better future for this source of renewable energy.

More increases of natural gas have been announced and here we are, already wondering how we are going to cope with the rising costs of EVERYTHING.

We thought of some things we can all do to help the situation. These suggestions are not limited to home owners; it is just as important for everyone to be involved in environmental issues. Remember, we are all in this together and whatever we can do now will help everyone.

Ways to Decrease Natural Gas Usage.

Make sure to have your furnace serviced and cleaned, and checked for efficiency.

Turn thermostat down 2 degrees and make a point of putting on a sweater instead of turning up the heat. Use a programmable thermostat or manually turn heat down well below daytime temperature at night. A daytime temperature of 20 and down to 17 at night would save significant amounts of energy. Remember, you are under the covers and heating a whole house would be very wasteful.

Likewise, if your family is out of the house all day, turn the heat down very low until you are all home in the evening.

If you have a room, or areas of your home that are cooler than others, rather than turning up the furnace, invest in an energy efficient heater. There are some nice, radiator types of heaters now that just radiate warmth at very low energy costs. Make sure you don’t have drafts around windows and doors and keep them closed as much as possible unless you are doing your daily airing.

If your floors seem colder than the upper part of the room, and if you have floor vents, you can place deflectors to move the warm air along the floor. Wear warm socks and shoes.

You can enjoy big savings with this one tip. Your water heater (even electric heaters) are energy guzzlers. Unfortunately, there isn’t a programmable thermostat for the water heater, and it is awkward, but, if you turn it up in the morning until everyone has showered etc. and then turn it back to low, or vacation for the rest of the day; turning up for an hour in the evening and back down again, you will enjoy HUGE savings. Imagine this is heating up all day long, way past the time when you need it and it is keeping the same water hot constantly.

Have a good look at your hot water tank. Look at the pipes leading out into the rafter area. If they are bare, you can get some pipe insulation, which comes in round “hose like” lengths. Fit these around all the hot water pipes that are visible.

If you are in a position to replace your water heating system, there are energy efficient units that are terrific. There is just a small, wall unit. When you turn the hot water on, the gas comes on and heats the water as it goes through a coil. When you shut the water off, the gas is turned off. This is the system that has been used in Europe for many years. There is no need to keep a big tank filled with hot water with the gas running all day when units like this are on the market.

If you have rooms where the sun comes in during the day, even on the coldest days the sun warms the indoor air. Be sure to keep all the blinds and drapes open in these rooms and you will find the warmth will remain for quite awhile after the sun goes down.

How To Gage Your Gas Energy Savings. Since the prices go up in leaps and bounds, the cost may still remain almost the same, or even higher, on your monthly bill. The only way to accurately judge your usage/savings is by keeping a check on your consumption. Keep your bill month by month and check the consumption area. Just a few changes can make quite a large consumption difference, as we have found in our own home. This is especially fun if you are the type of person who likes to keep records and make logs. If not, just jot the consumption figure down and stick it on the fridge to compare to the next bill.