Geothermal Powered House

Sonoma, California

Geothermal Power Plant

Water and the earth are used to create electricity

It is the same process to create electricity as with fossil fuels, but no fossil fuels are used

3 typesDry steam Flash steamBinary cycle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o6Me3gVXtc&feature=related

General Advantages and Disadvantages

No fossil fuels used

No need to transport

Only admissions are steam and small amounts of gases

Only able to be built on or near tectonic plates

Dry Steam

Hot steam and or water from the ground is routed to a turbine which powers a generator that creates electricity

Flash Steam

Uses hydrothermal fluids above 360°F

Fluid is put into low pressured tank which causes it to vaporize or “flash”

Vapor→ turbine→ generator→ house

Extras can be “flashed” again

Binary Cycle

Low temperature water mixed with a secondary fluid (hence binary) are sent through a heat exchanger which causes the secondary liquid to flash which powers turbines

Binary cycle (continued)

Closed system so produces no waste

New and up and coming more and more of these kind of plants are being built

Tankless instant water heater

Tankless water heaters use natural gas or propane to heat water only when water is neededWhen a faucet is turned on the heater begins to heat water as it passes through a copper heat exchanger84% of the energy as heat is used so extremely energy efficient Faucet is turned off and heater also shuts off so uses no phantom power

Recycled countertops

Old glass that does not break down is broken into small pieces and mixed with fly ash and concrete that also helps the environment rid of these wastesThey recycle but are very expensive to make and install they are still a very good choice in your home(see note below)