The wide range of green technologies under development is staggering. Alternative energy technologies, in particular, are receiving billions of dollars of support from venture capitalists, corporate investments, and government grants. With all the hype and noise in the alternative energy sector, a key challenge is separating the substance from the fluff. For what it is worth, here are my thoughts on two green technologies that will truly have a large impact over the next one or two decades.
Number one on my list is geothermal power. In my humble opinion, geothermal heating and cooling is currently the most underutilized technology in the world. The principle behind geothermal technology is well understood. No new science is needed. If you have ever gone into a cave or a traditional wine cellar, you know that below about 6 to 8 feet of depth, the temperature is relatively constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal technology simply makes use of this constant temperature underground to provide your home with cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. The technology is straightforward. By circulating water or another suitable liquid through pipes buried in your backyard, the heating or cooling can be brought into your home. By setting up a heat exchanger inside your home, this relatively constant temperature source underneath your yard can be tapped into, becoming a heat sink in warm months and a heat source in cold months. Electricity and gas requirements for heating a cooling can be decreased dramatically. Continue reading “Impactful Green Technologies of the Future: Geothermal Energy and Advanced Biofuels”
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