Geothermal: An Understated Idea Whose Time Has Come

There are two things that have become a common theme when folks first learn about geothermal systems. First, most are amazed that there are so many of them, often nearby; and second, that there are so many different types of geothermal coupling methods. I’ve had a tremendous opportunity in recent years to share information about geothermal systems with rooms full of architects, engineers, geologists and drilling professionals. 

The lack of knowledge stems from lack of educational sharing of the technology. Sure, the information is out there if you do your research, but it’s sometimes difficult to get a real idea of geothermal HVAC technology in a holistic way. As an example, I was recently on a conference call with several experts in New York. While there were geologists and engineers on the call, they were mostly concerned with the disconnect between the building system and the ground-coupled portion. Few people seem to get the whole picture.