Geothermal energy at home: the most sustainable alternative

Geothermal energy is probably one of the most unknown energy sources by the population. It is a clean, renewable and inexhaustible energy . It is one of the important resources that nature offers us and although it has great potential , its massive exploitation is a pending issue in most areas of Spain.

Like solar and wind energy, geothermal energy has very low production and maintenance costs compared to nuclear power, coal or gas plants . In the case of geothermal energy, we are talking about a cost per megawatt generated of €0.03 – €0.06 kWh . Although the installation costs can be high, the low cost of production per kilowatt means that in less than 10 years the initial investment can be amortized and start saving between 40 and 60% compared to a conventional installation.

In the case of the Canary Islands, being a volcanic area with important underground hot water springs, it would be one of the areas with the greatest geothermal potential in Spain, which is why several dozen tourist establishments already have their own geothermal facilities with fantastic results. Other areas of Spain that can incorporate these resources due to their geological characteristics are Galicia, Madrid, Navarra, Castilla y León, Catalonia or Andalusia . The challenge and the opportunity is to transfer this success to private homes.

Broadly speaking, we can define geothermal energy as a clean and renewable energy source that uses the heat from the subsoil to produce hot water, heating and air conditioning .

What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy consists of the production of energy from the subsoil, basically, to heat water and for the air conditioning of a home. By its very nature it is a very attractive option for new housing developments and single – family homes . Geothermal energy is a nod to the planet in the search for more sustainable houses , which also allows control and savings in energy costs .

The origin of this energy is in the use of the heat of the Earth. That heat that exists below the earth’s surface is generated thanks to the disintegration of radioactive material. The capture and conduction of this heat is carried out through a pump that raises the temperature and circulates it through tubes, developing convection processes.

The perforations of hot aquifers, as well as the injection of cold water through hot rocks, allow this heat capture . It should be noted that, thanks to the terrestrial core a few meters from the subsoil, the earth has a more or less constant temperature close to 14ºC. This temperature can be colder in the winter months, when the surface can reach 0ºC, while it is a hot spot in summer, when thermometers reach temperatures close to 35-40ºC.

Geothermal installations in homes take advantage of the heat of the earth to supply energy to air conditioning systems and also to regulate the temperature of domestic water. It is similar to the air conditioning system, but it is achieved in a natural way and with the ECO seal.

Advantages of geothermal

Some of the benefits of installing geothermal energy in a home are as follows:

• The main advantage of geothermal energy is the reduction of the energy cost . One of the largest energy costs in homes occurs when trying to generate heat, either for cooking or to maintain a certain temperature and comfort in the home. Geothermal energy is used to heat and cool a home, which significantly reduces that cost.

• It is a clean, renewable and practically inexhaustible energy that contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. It is one of the best options for single-family homes and new buildings.

• The maintenance of the facilities is reduced , being limited to a periodic check on the state of the pipes and the pump. So we will also save.

• It is a continuous energy , which will not suffer cuts or interruptions in its service.

• It is an energy that is not imported from other countries or from other areas. It is produced locally in the place where the house is located, so it saves on energy transport.

• Once the geothermal system is installed in a construction and thanks to the resistance to changes in subsoil temperature, a constant supply is achieved . You do not depend on sunny or windy seasons as is the case with solar or wind energy.

• The useful life of geothermal installations is very long . What contributes to the amortization of the initial investment and makes the bet on this option attractive.

• Geothermal air conditioning solutions require the use of underfloor heating on the floor of the house, whether stone or ceramic. The radiant floor consists of a system of tubes that runs through the different rooms, through which a cooling fluid circulates at a temperature between 20-25º depending on whether it is summer or winter. Thus, the floor acts as a collector of heat in the home and offers a very pleasant sensation when walking barefoot through the different rooms of the house.

In the number of geothermal installations in Spanish houses and dwellings, the difference is recovering with respect to that of other countries in our environment. The main attraction of this type of energy is the savings and energy independence that it allows in homes . The initial investment pays for itself relatively quickly thanks to very low maintenance and production costs. A clean and practically inexhaustible solution that contributes to caring for the planet with more sustainable homes .

Geothermal energy is probably one of the most unknown energy sources by the population. It is a clean, renewable and inexhaustible energy . It is one of the important resources that nature offers us and although it has great potential , its massive exploitation is a pending issue in most areas of Spain.

Like solar and wind energy, geothermal energy has very low production and maintenance costs compared to nuclear power, coal or gas plants . In the case of geothermal energy, we are talking about a cost per megawatt generated of €0.03 – €0.06 kWh . Although the installation costs can be high, the low cost of production per kilowatt means that in less than 10 years the initial investment can be amortized and start saving between 40 and 60% compared to a conventional installation.

In the case of the Canary Islands, being a volcanic area with important underground hot water springs, it would be one of the areas with the greatest geothermal potential in Spain, which is why several dozen tourist establishments already have their own geothermal facilities with fantastic results. Other areas of Spain that can incorporate these resources due to their geological characteristics are Galicia, Madrid, Navarra, Castilla y León, Catalonia or Andalusia . The challenge and the opportunity is to transfer this success to private homes.

Broadly speaking, we can define geothermal energy as a clean and renewable energy source that uses the heat from the subsoil to produce hot water, heating and air conditioning

What is geothermal energy?

Geothermal energy consists of the production of energy from the subsoil, basically, to heat water and for the air conditioning of a home. By its very nature it is a very attractive option for new housing developments and single – family homes . Geothermal energy is a nod to the planet in the search for more sustainable houses , which also allows control and savings in energy costs .

The origin of this energy is in the use of the heat of the Earth. That heat that exists below the earth’s surface is generated thanks to the disintegration of radioactive material. The capture and conduction of this heat is carried out through a pump that raises the temperature and circulates it through tubes, developing convection processes.

The perforations of hot aquifers, as well as the injection of cold water through hot rocks, allow this heat capture . It should be noted that, thanks to the terrestrial core a few meters from the subsoil, the earth has a more or less constant temperature close to 14ºC. This temperature can be colder in the winter months, when the surface can reach 0ºC, while it is a hot spot in summer, when thermometers reach temperatures close to 35-40ºC.

Geothermal installations in homes take advantage of the heat of the earth to supply energy to air conditioning systems and also to regulate the temperature of domestic water. It is similar to the air conditioning system, but it is achieved in a natural way and with the ECO seal.

Advantages of geothermal

Some of the benefits of installing geothermal energy in a home are as follows:

• The main advantage of geothermal energy is the reduction of the energy cost . One of the largest energy costs in homes occurs when trying to generate heat, either for cooking or to maintain a certain temperature and comfort in the home. Geothermal energy is used to heat and cool a home, which significantly reduces that cost.

• It is a clean, renewable and practically inexhaustible energy that contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. It is one of the best options for single-family homes and new buildings.

• The maintenance of the facilities is reduced , being limited to a periodic check on the state of the pipes and the pump. So we will also save.

• It is a continuous energy , which will not suffer cuts or interruptions in its service.

• It is an energy that is not imported from other countries or from other areas. It is produced locally in the place where the house is located, so it saves on energy transport.

• Once the geothermal system is installed in a construction and thanks to the resistance to changes in subsoil temperature, a constant supply is achieved . You do not depend on sunny or windy seasons as is the case with solar or wind energy.

• The useful life of geothermal installations is very long . What contributes to the amortization of the initial investment and makes the bet on this option attractive.

• Geothermal air conditioning solutions require the use of underfloor heating on the floor of the house, whether stone or ceramic. The radiant floor consists of a system of tubes that runs through the different rooms, through which a cooling fluid circulates at a temperature between 20-25º depending on whether it is summer or winter. Thus, the floor acts as a collector of heat in the home and offers a very pleasant sensation when walking barefoot through the different rooms of the house.

In the number of geothermal installations in Spanish houses and dwellings, the difference is recovering with respect to that of other countries in our environment. The main attraction of this type of energy is the savings and energy independence that it allows in homes . The initial investment pays for itself relatively quickly thanks to very low maintenance and production costs. A clean and practically inexhaustible solution that contributes to caring for the planet with more sustainable homes .