Eco Factor: Geothermal energy could be used to heat large office buildings, hospitals and schools in the United Kingdom.
Researchers at the Royal Academy of Engineering have stated that the United Kingdom is sitting on a vast resource of untapped geothermal energy, which if harnessed properly, can be used to heat office, school and hospital blocks. Though the initial investment will be large, it would be earned back in the form of energy savings in about 10 years.
The researchers are envisioning large heat pumps which can transfer heat energy from hundreds of feet below the ground to a central heating system. The system would heat the buildings during winter months and the same system would be taking heat out of the air during summers to keep the interiors cool. These researchers have admitted that the cost of installing a single heat pump is about £10,000, which makes it impractical to be used to heat a single household. However, considering the amount of energy present, it can well be used to heat large office blocks in a cost and eco-efficient way.
The Dark Side:
The cost of installing a single pump is £10,000, since the researchers are envisioning the use of not one but many heat pumps for a single block it would need an investment of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
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