A Brief History of Geothermal Heating

Geothermal heating is not a new idea, its use goes back several thousand years. Romans used the water from hot springs for their public baths. The oldest known hot springs spa was built in the Qin dynasty in China in the 3^rd century B.C. Geothermal heat can also be obtained directly from the ground itself.

Roman uses:

Geothermal water was not only used by the Romans to heat the water in public baths but also for treating skin and eye diseases. Minerals found in hot springs water has been long believed to have healing qualities. Geothermal water was used to heat the buildings in Pompeii. Building heat was obtained from under floor systems.

Native American use:

Evidence shows that Paleo-Indians built a settlement around hot springs over 10,000 years ago. Geothermal water from springs were not only used as a source of heat but also used for cooking.

Use in France:

France is home to the world's oldest known geothermal district heating system. The system in Chaudes-Aigues has been in use since about the 14^th century. Starting in 1960, France began using geothermal heating for homes in other areas. Up to 200,000 homes in France are heated by geothermal means.

United States:

An interesting application of geothermal heat is being used in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Geothermal water is pumped under sidewalks and roads to help prevent freezing and ice build up. In New Mexico rows of pipe are placed underground to keep soil warmer for agricultural purposes.

The first geothermal power plant was invented by Prince Piero Ginori Conti in 1904 at a dry steam field in Larderello Italy. In 1921 John Grant drilled a well at The Geysers, outside of San Francisco California, with the intent of generating electricity, his first attempt was a failure. One year later he was successful at a different site in the same area. The first large scale geothermal power plants in the United States began operation in 1960 in Sonoma County California.

Geothermal heating also works in the reverse. Consistent underground temperatures can also be used for cooling purposes. Early settlers in the United States dug holes and placed blocks of ice cut from frozen lakes. Using straw as an insulation the ice blocks would last for months providing cooling in warmer months. Geothermal heat can be used as a source for generating electricity as well. Steam, hot water or heat itself is used as the force to turn turbines for electrical generation.

References:

http://www.repp.org/geothermal/geothermal_brief_history.html

http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/SecInfo/GeothermalS.pdf

http://www.earthwormtunneling.com/geo_history.html

http://geothermal.marin.org/pwrheat.html#Q4

http://www.geothermalheatingreport.com/historyofgeothermal.html