Geothermal

Just beneath the surface of the earth lies one of the pieces to a puzzle that has fascinated humans since prehistoric times – renewable energy. Along with solar and wind, geothermal energy has inched its way to the top of the wish lists of both dedicated environmentalists and profit-seeking entrepreneurs. Why? It is virtually inexhaustible. It is constant, 24/7, in all weather (unlike solar and wind). And, finally, when current harnessing technology is employed, it is extremely inexpensive.

These factors have resulted in more and more homeowners, especially those who live in the Mountain and Western U.S. regions, where geothermal pools are plentiful, asking their builders to include plans for geothermal power in their new home construction.

Plus, innovations such as enhanced geothermal systems are making extraction of this power more efficient. An article on this technology notes that "this could potentially open up thousands of megawatts of energy potential from new reservoirs. And that could someday take the country's current 3,000 megawatts of geothermal energy production to almost 500,000. To put that into perspective, the entire electric power generating capacity in the United States is about a million megawatts."

A Quick Primer on Geothermal Energy

The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that in order to generate electricity from geothermal resources, "a well is usually drilled directly into an underground geothermal reservoir of water that can be as hot as 700 degrees Fahrenheit (371 Celsius). The trapped steam is brought to the surface to turn a turbine that produces electricity. The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) points out that water is also found on the surface as hot springs or geysers.

"Ground source heat pumps move fluids through continuous pipeline loops that are buried underground at depths where the temperature does not change much," according to GEA. "Heat picked up by the circulating fluid is delivered to a home or commercial building through a traditional duct system. During the summer, the pipeline loop pulls heat out of a building and returns cooler fluid to cool the building."

Brick and Geothermal = Powerful Resale Value

The combination of brick construction and geothermal power translates to an increase in the value of the home. This comes from savings on utilities and the increase in resale value.

"In many ways, the advantages of using geothermal energy mirror those of brick construction," added Michael Earley of Acme Brick. "Brick is the original environmentally-friendly construction material. It comes from the earth and is completely natural."

"As with geothermal energy, there is a little more initial investment required to build with brick. However, in a very short time, the savings on maintenance, insurance and the increase in resale value more than makeup for this initial investment. Just like geothermal energy, brick is a good business decision."

Exterior materials can affect the efficiency of a geothermal home, just like any other home. Brick has its benefits, such as sound infiltration and thermal mass advantages.

As for resale value, brick construction and renewable energy, such as geothermal, enhances this. A potential buyer comparing a brick home with geothermal power will realize that the monthly utility expenses will be a fraction of the non-geothermal home they are comparing it to. Although it may be difficult to calculate dollar amount this translates to for purchase price – neighborhood, interest rates, and other factors have an impact on this. However, industry research suggests that the resale value of a brick home increases more than $3,600 each year it is owned.

For more information on brick construction, contact Acme Brick.