Harvesting Ground Heat Through Geothermal Heating Technology

Just below our feet lies an energy source that can easily help us warm both our homes and hot water tanks. This energy source is known as thermal energy and can be harvested using specifically designed geothermal heating technology. This article will give you a better idea of how this natural energy source has come into existence and how geothermal heating systems actually harvest this energy.

But how does this energy under the earths surface occur? Thermal energy is caused by a number of contributors. For example, heat radiates out from the earths core and warms the ground. The earth also absorbs energy from the heat of the sun. The strength of this heat energy trapped beneath the surface of the ground will of course depend where you are in the world. It does not really matter where you are in the world though as geothermal heating technologies are able to extract heat from the ground however weak that heat is.

The concept of harvesting heat energy that is present beneath our feet is far from new. In the Roman Empire water heated naturally underground by geothermal energy was put to use to keep their spas hot. In effect this was the start of basic geothermal heating systems. This harvesting of naturally occurring geothermally heated hot water is still used today in some parts of the world. Iceland, for example, makes full use of this naturally occurring energy source using geothermal power plants.

Geothermal heating systems such as the Ground Source heat pump are now used across the world with much success. As the name suggests the Ground Source heat pump collects heat from the beneath the ground and literally pumps this heat around a home or property. Ground source heat pumps use a series of pipes that are laid underneath the surface of the ground. The loop of pipes are filled with a solution has properties to absorb geothermal heat energy directly from the ground. The solution is pumped through the loop of pipes, and gathers heat as it travels. The solution eventually passes through the heat pumps the heat exchanger part of the system where the heat is extracted and refined. This harvested heat is then used to directly warm living spaces and heat hot water tanks.

Geothermal heating systems are forecast to become even more popular with households across the globe. In general many people want to become more environmentally friendly and do their bit to help save the planet. Most people are also becoming increasingly frustrated at the incredibly high prices they are paying for fossil fuels such as gas and coal. Alternative ways to heat homes that are eco-friendly and cheaper to run, such as Ground Source heat pumps and other geothermal heating technology, are the ideal answer.

Would you like to discover more about geothermal heating technology and the benefits of investing in a heat pump system for your home? A good starting point is to visit one of the companies that specialized in geothermal heating and renewable heating systems. One reputable and well established company is called EcoVision. You can easily find their website. EcoVision specializes in all types of environmentally friendly technologies, including geothermal heating. The EcoVision website is probably the best next step for you to discover more information.

About the Author
Rich Stevens writes articles for EcoVision. Discover more information about Heat Pump technology and how Heat Pumps work on the EcoVision website.

Ideas For How Businesses Can Take Advantage Of Solar Energy

Over the last few years, businesses have experienced drastic climbs in their energy costs, a trend that will only continue. If utility costs make up a good deal of your overhead, skyrocketing energy rates can have a devastating effect on your business. Solar energy is completely free, a gift from the sun every sunny day. Use this gift to save money and make profit. Here's a look at how businesses can take advantages of solar energy.

Cut Utility Costs
As utility rates continue to escalate, your company will not be as affected as much when you are already harvesting your own solar power. Every sunny day, you can watch the electric meter tick backwards, so you owe the electric company less every month. You won't be as affected by steep rate increases when a good portion of your energy is getting a suntan on the roof.

Emissions Trading
President Barack Obama has indicated that the US will enter a cap and trade program to control global warming. In the near future, greater governmental pressure will make for very valuable pollution cuts. You can use solar energy as a renewable resource to slash your company's emissions rates, selling resulting credits to more polluting companies. Make money from the sun with emissions trading and the advantages of solar energy.

Tax Credits and Rebates
Obama has also made it clear that he wants to invest in America's renewable energy resources. Many tax credits and rebates, both federal and local, now exist that make solar energy more affordable than ever. This is money on the table that's there for the taking. Solar energy always ends up paying for itself, but it pays the bill even quicker with the tax credits and rebates currently available.

Free Resource
Sunshine is always free. Invest in the infrastructure, and then the sunshine pays you back. Solar panels are almost completely maintenance free, so there are very little costs involved once you've got them up and running. They continue to pay for themselves several times over. Once you've invested in the structure, solar power becomes as free for your business as it is for the flowers. Visit the best San Diego solar installation company at SunPath solar to find out how you can go green with solar energy.

About the Author
Ryan Frank is an avid writer and blogger living in San Diego, CA.

How Much You Can Receive Off The Price Of A Solar System

Solar power relating to houses becomes more popular each year. Because the cost of manufacturing decreases it is quickly turning into an affordable and practical option for a lot of home-owners. The government is assisting individuals with tax concessions they offer to people that elect to go green.

Why Use Solar Power?

Solar power for homes is good for the environment as it does not contribute to green house gas emissions. Just the use of solar power to heat our water drastically reduces carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

How does the Government help?

Solar Credits is the term assigned for the Australian government's latest solar subsidy for homeowners, businesses and neighbourhood communities. On 20 August, the program was authorised in government law, subsidising the expense of supply and install of a new solar renewable energy system (no means testing necessary). This program is in contrast to it's predecessor which was means tested for a home income of $100,000. It's the most recent in a variety of schemes, which unfortunately appear to change more often than most of us can keep up with.

The questions people most commonly seek the answer to are:

1. How much will I be able to receive off the price of a solar system?
2. How much will a solar system cost us currently?

Typically, if you would like a new 1kW system, you will get approximately $3,500 off the cost. If you'd like 1.5kW or more you'll then be able to reduce the cost by around $5,600.

So how much does this mean you could spend on a system?
Here are some ballpark figures with regard to costs. They'll differ by a thousand or so either way depending on the brand of panels and inverters suppliers use, as well as their particular overheads.

• Typical price of a 1kW solar system is approximately $8,500
• Government's Solar Credits Rebate is $3,500
• Cost to you personally to get 1KW of solar power is is around $5,000
• General cost of a 1.5kW solar system is $11,500
• Government Rebate is $5,500
• Cost for you to get 1.5KW of solar power is around $6,000

As you can see, the way in which the Solar Credits scheme works, the 1.5kW system is actually much better value. You get 50% more electricity for only about a 20% greater cost.

The solar credits scheme maxes out at 1.5kW. If you want a system bigger than that your solar credits will reach it's limit at about $5,600. The good news though is that you will be able claim around $560 per additional kW in Certificates Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS).

About the Author
eco-kinetics are quality providers of affordable Solar Power Systems and Solar Panels Brisbane. To find out more about how they help you with the Govt solar credit rebates check out their website today!