Go Geothermal Saskatchewan!

This post will be Saskatchewan specific, but if you’re from another province or state, check with your energy provider to see what their protocol is!

Ok so FIRST… here is a quick re-cap on what Geothermal Energy IS...
It is energy that can be produced by extracting the earth's internal heat.

“Ok, sweet… now how do WE in Saskatchewan harness the Geothermal Energy... ?”

By using a Ground Source Heat Pump - a central heating and/or air conditioning system that actively pumps heat to or from the ground. It uses the earth as either a source of heat in winter or as a coolant in the summer!

“Awesome, I want it soooo now what?...”

-In order to install Geothermal Heating in your home or community we must first consulting with a contractor, as your geothermal system must be designed and installed by qualified professional.

-There are a number of venders in the province who will sell you small-scale environmentally friendly electricity systems, however SaskPower working is working with the Canadian Geothermal Coalition (CGC) to promote Geothermal and accredit installers and drillers – to make sure the ground source heat instalments are safe and up to SaskPowers standards. So check into them first perhaps?! http://www.cgcgroup.ca/

…. And don’t forget in support of the province's Go GREEN PLAN, SaskPower has loan plans ($1,000 to $50,000 ) and rebate program (15% rebate) in place to provide Saskatchewan residents and business owner’s financial support for setting up their geothermal heating systems.

“NICE…. Sign me up”…

- But before you get toooooooooo excited the contractor may require a feasibility study to be done to ensure your building site/home location is suitable for geothermal heating.

- The total installed cost of earth-energy systems varies according to site-specific conditions, but can be up to twice the cost of a gas, electric, or oil furnace with add-on air conditioning. However, the initial installation cost should be recovered through energy cost savings within five to seven years dependent upon the system. But don’t forget the incentives being offered by SaskPower!!!!

“Yaaaaaaaaaa, I’m riding the geo train everyone join in”

If you have any further questions don't hesitate to pick up the phone and call SaskPower!

Think about it!

Heather & Chanel

Geothermal... sounds scientific!

The word geothermal (origination from the greek words earth and heat) sounds like a scientific word that is not known to the common person..... but it is quite Amazing! Geothermal energy is a simply fusion of the words earth and heat, meaning to heat from the earth!

This form of energy is just emerging as a practical, reliable, affordable, sustainable and a 100% NON-POLLUTING form of heating and cooling. Its principles are actually quite simple, and the process of acquiring geothermal energy as an energy source have become much more common throughout the past few years (even in Saskatoon there are several companies that specialize in providing this type of energy, for your home, business etc.)!!!!

Here are the specifics in terms we understand:

• The intensity of the thermal energy in the earth increases with depth- ie. the temperature of the Earth increases as we travel closer to its centre. A global average for Earth’s geothermal temperature increase with depth is approximately 30°C/km. Earth contains an incredibly vast and abundant amount of thermal energy.
• Sources like nuclear, coal and natural gas use different processes (i.e. radioactive decay, combustion) to heat water into steam, which is run through a turbine to generate electricity. Geothermal energy uses the escaping heat from Earth’s core as a means to heat water and produce electricity. By drilling deep into the Earth’s interior, we find temperatures suitably high to produce electricity.
  
• Sometimes when we drill deep, there is hot water where the rock is porous (has space for fluids). In this case, we can extract the water from that place in the earth and, using specialized equipment, use it to produce electricity. If there is no water, but the rocks are very hot where drilling is happening, it is possible to inject water to create an enhanced geothermal system (EGS) and heat water where it did not exist before. By using Earth’s thermal energy to heat water instead of processes with harmful by-products like coal and nuclear, geothermal energy can produce clean, reliable electricity as long as heat continues to seep from Earth’s interior (as it has for 4.5 billion years). Further, it is sustainable power because once we have extracted the thermal energy from the water or steam, it can be continuously re-injected deep underground to obtain more geothermal heat.

Great video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ajqiPe_9Ko&feature=related

This is a simple introduction to yet another form of SUSTAINABLE, RELIABLE & 100% NON-POLLUTING energy that is a great alternative to other more harmful energy sources in our environment. Think about it!

Green beans, Chanel and Heather