Publication
01.01.2009
Geo-exchange and You
Breeze Glazer
Geothermal heating has been used since the ancient Roman Empire as a way of heating buildings by utilizing sources of hot water and steam that exist near the Earth's surface. Geo-exchange, using the thermal energy from the ground itself or a body of water, has existed since the 1940s, yet only started to come into the mainstream during the oil embargo of the 1970s, when the Federal government launched programs to accelerate development of alternative energies primarily biomass, geothermal, solar and wind. Geo-exchange moved back into the shadows as oil prices fell over the next 20 years, stunting the growth of renewable energy measures across the board. However, geo-political and environmental events of the last decade have again brought to the forefront the importance of an energy-efficient and independent society. Geo-exchange systems have been deemed by the EPA as the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available, although it is not a true renewable energy system. These qualities offered align strongly to the constant energy demands of a healthcare facility that must operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are the second most energy-intensive industry. As heating, cooling and water heating occupy anywhere from 49-68% of a typical healthcare facilities’ energy consumption, the benefits are clear. Once one understands the properties of geo-exchange and all it can offer, it is easy to understand the groundswell that is taking place within the healthcare industry and we must both commend and learn from the pioneers that have helped to lead the charge.
