The Dutch city of Heerlen is not a name that is familiar to the world. But geothermal energy and old coal mines seem to have put the city on the map and for the world to take notice. The Dutch city now has the world’s first and only operational geothermal power station that is powered by water heated in old coalmine shafts. While most of the old coal mines that no longer produce coal are abandoned and rendered useless, the Dutch have found a unique way to use them. A coal mine flooding with water is generally considered a disaster, but this one is boon to the planet.

Water is pumped down into the deserted shafts at depths of over 800 meters. Here water is heated to a temperature of around 35 degrees centigrade by the natural heat of the earth’s interior. This water is sufficient to power around 350 homes on a daily basis. The technology is pretty awesome and cuts out carbon emissions by 55% when compared to regular power production methods. While only cities and towns that are close to abandoned shafts can use this method, it still is petty welcome in terms of novelty.

Maybe in future we could build underground tunnels across the planet to harness geothermal energy in this very specific fashion. The idea has great potential and hopefully others will follow the Dutch in execution.
Via:  Cleantechnica

It seems that whenever we talk about alternate sources of energy, the only two sources that come to our mind are Solar and Wind Energy. That is indeed not all too surprising as most of the world is pretty capable of harnessing these two forms of energy and they are more extensively available that ‘Geothermal Energy’. That is apparently what we used to believe until recently, but as always researchers have altered our notions by showing us that over 120,000 MW of untapped low-temperature geothermal energy lies in the US alone!

Raser Technologies and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson broke ground on New Mexico’s first geothermal power plant. Situated at Lightning Dock near Animas, the new plant will incorporate an innovative binary liquid technology that allows it to make use of the site’s low levels of geothermal energy. The project will be one of the first geothermal plants in the nation to incorporate the new breed of low-temperature technology featured in Raser’s proprietary modular power plants.

Each individual generation unit is manufactured off-site, delivered to the location, and rapidly installed to create, in essence, a geothermal farm with multiple 450 kW units. Raser Technologies anticipates the first 10 MW of power generation will be online by early next year (2009). Phase II of the project will add another 15 MW of power, for a total of 25 MW, which is enough to power nearly fifteen thousand homes. This technology holds exciting prospects, as recently the US Geological Survey identified over 120,000 MW of untapped low temperature geothermal resources in the US.

Via: Inhabitat

The under construction Community Arts Centre at Greensburg, Kansas is under limelight for being the most talked about green, environment-friendly prefab structure. Its uniqueness and popularity can be judged by the fact that the building features in Planet Green’s documentary series for Discovery Channel! This non-residential building is one of the pioneer structures created among a number of sustainable prototypes for Greensburg and this brilliant Studio804 of the University Of Kansas School Of Architecture has done work. Studio804’s portfolio is brimming with sustainable prefab designs; so, it doesn’t surprises me wee bit to learn that, this Community Arts Centre recently became the first LEED Platinum building in Kansas!

The art centre is being designed uniquely to provide adequate space to support small scale commercial programs and to act as an educational tool for a community who loves to preserve and propagate its cultural heritage via both visual and performing arts. It uses a modular design. Also, it is interesting to note that the building uses a combo of active and passive energy systems. This combination includes water reclamation, cross ventilation and passive solar design. The Community Arts Centre is so planned as to use solar, wind and geothermal form of renewable energy sources to meet its power requirements thus becoming an exemplar of cleaner energy options and sustainability.

Have a look at the exterior and interior of the CAC and I bet you would be awestruck just like me!

Via Inhabitat