Uses

In neither Toronto, Ontario nor Canada, the production of geothermal energy into electrical energy is not the ideal method. This is due to the fact that in order to utilize geothermal energy for electricity generation, it requires the earth’s crust to be thin, which is only found along fault lines. Although theoretically geothermal energy can be obtained from anywhere on the earth. However due to the types of landforms and limited budgets, scientist look for “hot spot,” which are places that contain high underground temperatures and are closest to the crust (also known as fault lines.) Since the only places in Canada that have fault lines are British Columbia and Yukon, converting geothermal energy into electricty can only be considered there.

However, the good thing is that the amount of heat level that is needed for heating and cooling systems for homes is far less than the amount needed for electrical production. Thus it is not requited to be near fault lines, where there are high underground temperatures closer to the crust. Therefore, it is available almost anywhere in Canada. Recently geothermal heating and cooling systems have started to gain popularity as an effective cooling and heating system in both Toronto and Ontario. Home owners are now considering geothermal heating and cooling systems for their own homes all across Toronto, and it now even qualifies for Toronto’s Live Green Rebate Program.

Geothermal energy now qualifies and is recognized by Toronto's largest environmental group.

However in other parts of the world, especially places along the fault lines, the use of geothermal energy is to a much broader extent. On top of using it for electrical production as well as heating and cooling systems, countries such as Unites States, New Zealand, Italy, Iceland, Mexico, Philippines and Japan use it for different requirements.

• Hot springs transformed into baths for therapeutic reasons.
• Used in agriculture to nourish soil with hot water from geothermal energy to produce better crops in the fraction of regular time.
• Used in greenhouses to geothermally heat the air and soil, allowing cold countries such as Iceland to produce freshly grown foods all year long.
• Pipes containing geothermally heated water, built under the sidewalk to melt and prevent the hazardous ice build up in the winter.

Greenhouces similar to this is warmed with and lit with heat and electricity from a geothermal plant.                               

Blue Lagoon, Iceland, where swimmers enjoy a warm clean swim in the geothermally heated water.

The vedio below was one of the many vedios that were used to promote geothermal energy. It also provides a visual example on how geothermal energy is used and harnessed.