Geothermal energy derives from the immense thermal reservoir of the earth's interior. Heat from molten rock (magma) beneath the earth's crust or from natural radioactive decay transfers to rock and water closer to the surface. In certain regions of the earth, the hot waters are close enough to the surface to be commercially exploited in heating applications, or, in the case of high-grade steam reserves, in electrical power generation. For more information, visit http://www.infinitepower.org/resgeothermal.htm.
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Grounded-Coupled Heat Pumps - Heat naturally flows from hot places to cold places. However, heat can be moved in the other direction, from cold to hot, with a heat pump, a device usually driven by an electric motor. Air conditioners transfer heat from a cool house to the hot outdoors, so in a strict sense, they are heat pumps. But in the building trades, the term heat pump refers to a special kind of air conditioner that can reverse direction, moving heat from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors. {Read more} |