http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Earth_Clean-Energy_Geothermal_18_151_642.html Press Review of the Earth from the most relevant websites. Keep in touch with the Earth and your future ! fr-FR http://www.earth-stream.com/logo-stream-Earth.png http://www.earth-stream.com Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:25:35 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Government-Scientists-Affirm-Geothermal-s-Huge-Energy-Potential_18_151_642_134885.html Google likes to tout Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) as "the sleeping giant" of clean power. The United States Geological Survey (USGS), it seems, would wholeheartedly agree. This week, USGS scientists released the agency’s first assessment in more than 30 years of the electric power generation potential of the nation’s geothermal resource. What'd they find? If developed, geothermal could generate 556,890 MW of electricity in the United States. That’s more than 200 times the installed geothermal capacity in the nation today, which stands at 2,500 MW. read more Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:20:55 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/The-New-LEED-Certified-Brooklyn-Children-s-Museum-_18_151_642_134634.html A vibrant swath of yellow amid the brownstones of Crown Heights, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum re-opened on September 20 after its completed expansion. Designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, the expansion will be New York City’s first LEED-certified museum in addition to being the first structure to tap geothermal wells as a means to heat and [...] Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:36:10 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/USU-Receives-Grant-for-Study-of-Algae_18_151_642_133486.html LOGAN (AP) -- Utah State University will share a $900,000 government research grant for biofuel production. The Utah school will team with Montana State University to grow species of algae that thrive in geothermal vents and the Great Salt Lake in a test of their oil content. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:04:16 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/530-Gigawatts-of-Geothermal-Power-Waits-to-be-Tapped-US-Geological-Survey_18_151_642_133455.html Geothermal power plant in Iceland. Photo: Trey Ratcliff We’ve heard competing claims about how much geothermal power potential exists in various parts of the world. Recent statements about Australia’s geothermal potential seem incredible: Tapping 1% of it could yield 26,000 years of energy. Obviously more questions are posed by the statement then are resolved. Well, the US Geological Survey has released a new study which estimates more soberly th... Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:22:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Green-Open-House-Tour-New-England_18_151_642_133393.html Green Open House Tour: Green Retro-fit: Built in 1818 and renovated with a grant from the state, one home on the Green Open House Tour now features modern green building systems.   The NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) is hosting an open house on Saturday, October 4, from 10 am to 4 pm. The organization has coordinated with home owners and facility managers to provide access to numerous green buildings. Visit the site to see if there is an open house in your area and drop in to ask questions and see the installations that make new and remodeled homes more energy efficient. Just click on the map search, enter your zip code, and click GO. You can also search for projects that involve a specific type of green feature, like a geothermal heat pump, grey-water collection, or LEED rating in the drop down menu at left. I’m going to visit a home built in 1818 in Andover, MA that exhibits grid-tied Photovoltaics, a geothermal heat pump, a tankless water heater, and an alternative fuel vehicle for daily use.   Post submitted by ThinkDwell. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:57:18 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Green-Prefab-From-Across-the-Pond_18_151_642_132705.html I happened to live in France back in 2002, and during my year there I noticed a pretty significant gap between sustainability as practiced in Europe in the US. In Europe, I was working with large public companies who were already integrating the implications of global warming and sustainbility into their businesses. In the US (and sadly still today), many companies were still arguing whether global warming even existed! This difference was also evident in houshold products - from luxury hotels in Italy fully outfitted with CFLs to low-flow water fixtures and dual-flush toilets in many homes to small upright washers in even the most basic apartments, the kinds of products associated with our burgeoning US green movement today were already the norm in many parts of Europe back then. On a recent trip overseas I happened to pick up a French architecture magazine for the flight home. I was pleasantly surprised to see that we had really caught up in the past six years - outside of being written in French, you would have been hard-pressed to distinguish this magazine from any of the leading US architecture magazines. One article caught my eye, though, for it did point out a slight difference that needs to move across the pond. It was on a beautiful and practical prefab home, called the EvolutiV house by Olgga Architectes of Paris. The house itself is striking, made from two rectangular prefrabicated sections that can be rearranged to develop different floorplans and having exterior walls made from sections of wooden logs. The homes also come with the latest and greatest in eco-design: natural ventilation, rainwater collection, solar panels (both PV and thermal), green roof, radiant heating with an option for geothermal heating/cooling, and the typical eco-friendly materials throughout. The most interesting piece of the story, though, is that the literature for the house and the articles written about it all refer to the home’s target energy usage: less than 48 kWh / m2 ... Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:28:43 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/U-S-geothermal-is-hot_18_151_642_132445.html Installed U.S. capacity of baseload geothermal power is 2958 MW. Our geothermal power is set to double over the next several years, according to “U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Update,” by the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association. The following table gives the power currently on-line, in Phase I (secured rights, exploration drilling), Phase II [...] Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:29:52 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/10-of-U-S-Domestic-Energy-Now-Renewable_18_151_642_132245.html That's right, ten percent of the energy produced in America is now renewable! It's certainly good news, but not actually as good as it might seem. We're only talking about American energy here...so while that counts almost all of the coal, it doesn't include a pretty huge chunk of the oil. But it does point out that renewable energy is already a substantial portion of American's energy production picture. The biggest piece of that 10% is now biomass and biofuels, followed by hydroelectric (a chunk of the renewable energy pie that has not and will not grow any further.) Wind is a different story however. While it's still a tiny piece of domestic production (still less than a percent) it's growing faster than any other energy source, 50% up over last year in the first half of this year alone. Solar and geothermal finish up the renewable source list with a truly tiny piece of the pie...but both offer even more opportunity for growth than wind power. Renewables are simply best way to get energy domestically, and now with 10% of our energy (and rising) coming from these sources, the sun is looking that much brighter. Full Press Release from the SUN DAY Campaign Below   Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:25:13 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/National-Solar-Tour-Renewable-Energy-Behind-the-Scenes_18_151_642_131937.html Have you ever wondered what an inverter looks like or how a solar heating system connects to a furnace? Across the country in the month of October, solar system owners will open their doors to the solar curious as part of a national self-guided solar tour. Ranging from single family homes to restaurants to laundromats, participants can get an up close and personal look at solar systems. Owners will be on hand to answer questions at many of the locations and to speak about their personal experiences utilizing solar energy. Some stops on the tour will showcase wind and geothermal energy systems as well. The exact dates of the tour vary by location. Visit the American Solar Energy Society website for local information. This is the 13th year of the tour. Last year, 115,000 participants visited 5,000 sites in 44 states. Photo Credit (upper photo): Solar Service of Niles, IL Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:04:59 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/UN-forecasts-boom-in-green-jobs-_18_151_642_131748.html BBC: The UN says millions of new jobs will be created worldwide over the next few decades by the development of alternative energy technologies. More than a million people already work in biofuels, but a UN report says that could rise by 12 million by 2030. It says "green jobs" depend on a shift of subsidies from oil and natural gas to wind, solar, and geothermal power. New jobs could also include the expansion of recycling and making environmentally friendly ... Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:34:59 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Zero-Energy-Home-Participates-in-Green-Buildings-Open-House_18_151_642_131433.html A net zero energy home in Truro, Massachusetts, will be open to the public as part of the NESEA Green Buildings Open House. The private residence is designed to produce as much energy as it uses each year. Zero Energy Home  Truro, MA (PRWEB) -- ZeroEnergy Design, an architectural design and mechanical engineering firm, will be showcasing their newly completed net zero energy home as part of both the 2008 Green Buildings Open House held annually by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) and the National Solar Energy Tour held annually by the American Solar Energy Association (ASEA) as sponsored by the US Department Of Energy.   The modern Cape Cod residence utilizes a combination of attributes to achieve net zero energy performance. First, energy requirements of the home are reduced by passive means, including attributes like staggered stud walls with foam insulation. Then the active systems throughout the house are selected for energy efficiency, such as the geothermal system which provides all of the heating and cooling. Lastly, renewable energy systems are sized to off-set the annual energy consumption as predicted by detailed energy modeling software. The end result is a grid tied home that utilizes net metering to spin its electric meter backwards and produces as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes.   With a sleek modern aesthetic created by ZeroEnergy Design, the oceanfront residence was constructed by Silvia & Silvia, custom builders, in collaboration with Light Th!s, a lighting design firm, NexAmp, renewable energy system experts, Heimarck & Foglia, landscape architects, GridPoint, an energy management appliance manufacturer, and utilizes panels from Evergreen Solar, a photovoltaic manufacturer.   The residence, located on Corn Hill in Truro, will be open to the public on Saturday October 4th from 10AM until 4PM. More information including directions can be found on the NESEA Green Buildings Open House listings website at w ... Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:37:12 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/US-Senate-oks-extending-energy-tax-credits_18_151_642_130890.html Reuters: The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a package to extend $18 billion in tax credits for using renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal and also provide incentives to cut energy consumption. The move, which alternative energy companies had been lobbying for all year, sent shares of solar power companies higher in after-hours trade. The delay in extending the tax credits had been a major damper on those stocks this year. The Senate was seen as the biggest roadblock after ... Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:37:09 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Is-US-renewable-tax-credit-saga-finally-nearing-its-end-_18_151_642_130885.html Business Green: Fears that growth in the US renewable energy sector was about to be halted by the failure of legislators to extend a package of tax breaks that was due to expire last year alleviated somewhat yesterday after the Senate approved plans to extend $18bn in tax credits for using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal. The proposals, which include measures to provide generous tax incentives for firms installing solar energy systems and purchasing electric cars, still ... Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:48:08 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Senate-to-Vote-on-Renewable-Energy-Tax-Credits-But-will-McCain-Show-Up-this-Time-_18_151_642_130463.html McCain has been absent 8 times this year for critical vote The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote as early as Tuesday, on legislation that would extend tax breaks for renewable energy production and energy-efficiency measures. Negotiators hammered out the extensive tax package to continue investment credits for solar, wind, and geothermal energy. It also creates a new tax credit for purchasers of plug-in hybrid vehicles. The Senate version of the measure, would spend $17 billion on energy tax incentives over 10 years and pay for those incentives by limiting some oil and gas company deductions, altering tax treatment of certain foreign oil-related income and raising the per-barrel tax by four cents over three years. Read more of this story » Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:43:46 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Solar-Power-Storage-Cleantech-Water-Power-Research-Gets-Federal-Cash-Injection_18_151_642_129894.html photo: toby Back in June the US Department of Energy announced it was investing $90 million in advanced geothermal power research to help develop more of the vast power potential of geothermal. Now the DOE has announced the recipients of more federal funding to develop renewable energy technologies: Cleantech water power and solar power storage. The amount of funds for each isn’t as much of for advanced geothermal, $7.3 million and $67.6 million respectively. The lucky/worthy recipients are:... Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:02:13 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Naked-Bathers-Protest-Geothermal-Plants-in-Japan_18_151_642_129770.html Ubayu Onsen, Yamagata If any country after Iceland was suitable for geothermal power, it would be Japan- it has the potential to produce over twenty thousand megawatts but only has 530 megawatts of production in place. One problem is a new form of NIMBY: Not near my hot spring. According to Hiroshi Suzuki in Bloomberg, One of Japan's opportunities to tap cleaner, cheaper energy and reduce dependence on imported oil has run into a problem: millions of naked bathers. ... Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:17:21 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/First-green-award-to-Rotorua-motel_18_151_642_129560.html A Rotorua business which uses geothermal energy to heat its water is the first in the country to receive a Qualmark environmental verification. Alpin Motel owners Steve and Gillian Osbourne were awarded a Qualmark Enviro-silver... Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:45:34 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Senate-to-vote-next-week-on-energy-tax-credits_18_151_642_129330.html Reuters: The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote next week, possibly as early as Tuesday, on legislation that would extend tax breaks for renewable energy production and energy-efficiency measures. Negotiators hammered out the extensive tax package to continue investment credits for solar, wind, and geothermal energy. It also creates a new tax credit for purchasers of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Under the bill, the tax credit for producing electricity from wind would be extended for one year ... Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:04:40 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Friday-Link-Fest-Edition-61_18_151_642_128886.html   It's Friday again and that means the Friday Linkfest is here! Let's see what's been happening to the environment this week. Good News Hundreds of new and rare marine species have been discovered in Australia's Grand Barrier Reef. The new edition of Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics is now out. A study claims taking strong measures to combat global warming would help California's economy, boost employment and increase household savings and personal income. Google is partnering with GE to develop geothermal and plug-in technologies. Bad News The ozone hole is bigger this year than ... Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:49:23 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Clean-Energy/Geothermal/Google-&-GE-Joining-Forces-to-Bring-You-Geothermal-Power-Plug-In-Vehicles-and-a-Smart-Grid_18_151_642_128461.html Eric Schmidt with GE's CEO Jeff Immelt at Google's Zeitgeist conference. Photo: Google Expanding and improving the United States’ electrical transmission grid would be a major building block in creating an electrical supply that is reliable, efficient and clean. The move to make that happen got a new ally today: Google. The internet giant has announced that it will be partnering with GE to work on both the technological side of the problem as well as the policy angle. This is the plan: ...