| SOLAR GEOTHERMY |
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Even though the first geothermal air heat pump was installed in the Commonwealth Building of Portland (Oregon) in 1946, solar geothermy did not become popular until the 1973 petrol crisis, when countries such as Germany, Sweden, the United States, Canada or Great Britain started promoting the air heat pump as an alternative to the solid energy sources.
In order to attain the ambitious aims concerning the use of renewable energy in 2010, the UE has implemented various campaigns. Presently, “Sustainable Energy for Europe 2005-08” aims to develop renewable energy sources with the construction of 250.000 air heat pumps. Official organisms are beginning to consider solar geothermal energy as a renewable energy source, following the European tendency.
In the following list, you can find the principal aspects concerning solar geothermy and its applications, prepared by the official organisms:
A. Blue Book of Geothermal Sources. European Commission 1999.
This book can be considered the European Community reference for geothermal energy. It explains that there are two different systems to exploit geothermal energy: high temperature sources (more than 150ºC) used to generate electric energy and low temperature sources (less than 150ºC) which can be directly used as energy or can be transformed into energy using air heat pumps. In any case, geothermal energy does not produce CO2 emissions.
Geothermal air heat pumps (GHP) can be used in all countries and in all types of buildings: from small homes to public constructions. Its double function (heating and cooling) holds promise for a strong implantation in the near future. The use of air heat pumps is quite widespread in the United States and Japan but in Europe it is only exploited by Germany, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland. The potential market in countries such as Italy, Portugal and Spain, places where an air conditioning system is needed, is also very important.
B. Energy Department in United States
The air heat pumps provide a cheap energy source to warm and cool homes. Its main advantages are:
- Low energy consumption
- Comfort during the whole year
- Design characteristics (smaller size)
- Aesthetic improvement: the equipment does not require cooling towers
- Environmentally Friendly
- Low maintenance costs
- Heating and cooling system in one
- Durability (more than 20 years)
C. Green Book of the European Community Energy Commission
It states that the European Union must improve its energy dependency which is of about 50% nowadays and is estimated to increase until 70% by 2030. The CO2 emissions are increasing, so there are difficulties to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.
D. Directives of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe about the energy improvement in buildings:
The energy consumption in the EU increases daily. 40,7% of this demand comes from residential areas and the service sector. And only 10% of the energy consumed for these sectors comes from renewable energy sources.
In both areas, the energy consumption for air conditioning and hot water represents more than 65% of the total. With the right operations, it seems possible to save 22% of the actual consumption in 2010. The future of the air heat pumps is conditioned by their price (which is decreasing) and by the improvement of their efficiency.
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