Direct Use

Photo of a worker holding a cactus in a greenhouse.

Direct use of geothermal energy in homes and commercial operations is much less expensive than using traditional fuels. Savings can be as much as 80% over fossil fuels. Direct use is also very clean, producing only a small percentage (and in many cases none) of the air pollutants emitted by burning fossil fuels. Direct use applications includes district heating, greenhouse and aquaculture facilities, food dehydration, laundries, milk pasteurizing, lumber drying, spas, and others.

Geothermal Direct Use

Success Story - Midland School District

The Midland School District (South Dakota) didn't feel the pinch of high heating costs this past winter, or any winter. Geothermal water has heated Midland Elementary and High Schools for over 30 years. According to Principal Denise Fox, the school district pays about $10,000 a year for phone, light, and electricity. Fox said, "I tell people that we heat this way [with geothermal] and again it's a funding issue right now. It's been discussed during legislation how are we going to afford to heat the schools. So I say hey, come to Midland. We have a nice way to heat." The geothermal well also provides water (Source: "Geothermal Water Keeps School Warm" by Andy Harvey, Keloland TV, 3 March 2006). For more information.