Instead of going on a cruise this year or flying off to dream-like destinations, more people are choosing to tour locally. No matter what constitutes ‘local’, there are likely enough interesting and stimulating activities to last a few hours or a few days’ worth of leisurely investigation. Finding a new restaurant, park or museum will not only help boost the local economy, but it might also help to boost your spirits while saving some money.

I recently had guests in town from overseas, and I had to make an itinerary that would show off our natural, local treasures. Now, I am always excited to travel- packing a bag, making a list of necessary items and researching the destination gives me enough adrenaline to sail through potentially exhaustive days of endless walking, picture-taking and over-eating. But creating a schedule that would be in many ways a reflection of my own life, of my own surroundings was a bigger challenge. I had to ask myself what were the most precious and memorable elements in my daily life? What will my friends cherish to make their journey worthwhile?

It was at that moment, seated pen in hand, that I realized how little I thought about local tourism, and about the environmental impact it could have. I realized that by changing not only my perspective in physical space, but also my ideas about what constitutes an interesting new experience, local travel would mean less negative environmental impact. As it turns out, I found many more activities to plan than were feasible to fit into their schedule, all within a reasonable distance.

Researching online, I was able to make an itinerary that combined highlighted tourist attractions with local ones. For instance, I live a few hours’ drive from architectural masterpieces that I’ve only seen in books. I’m going to take that drive this summer and support local industries…

• Join this discussion on the Hot Spring Network, and contribute your input on great local tourism options or experiences

HARNESSING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY COULD PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL SUSTAINABLE FUEL SOURCE FOR GREEN ECONOMY

Geothermal energy is increasingly being touted by scientists and researchers as one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly sources of power available.  Currently, geothermal sources supply enough energy, 2,800 megawatts, to run 2.8 million American homes.

The potential of geothermal energy in the US is even greater than once believed, at an estimated 13,000 megawatts over the next 10 years; but only the western states of Utah, Nevada and California have active geothermal power stations.

Research now reveals that geothermal sources of energy have the potential to run as many as 100 million homes over the next 50 years.  Such energy production has the potential to replace 10-13 coal burning power stations, and to supply enough energy for 250,000 homes.

Geothermal energy is also nearly emission-free.  But, dissimilar to solar and wind generated energy, geothermal power does not rely on particular weather conditions, making the power source among the most reliable.

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The Bush administration has done little to promote geothermal power in its energy plan.  They are opting instead to fund the nuclear power industry with a proposed $875 million while suggesting they purge government sponsored geothermal research.

Worldwide, production of geothermal sources could produce 50,000 times more power than all potential reserves of oil and gas combined.

Geothermal energy is harnessed by digging holes into the ground where there is a natural source, and pumping water into the ground where it is heated, and then pumped back up again for use either as is, or for the production of electricity.

Most geothermal energy has been found accidentally, by digging for something else.  Prospecting for these energy-rich areas is difficult and unpredictable.

Underneath the state of Utah is a combination of fault lines and geologic activity, which allows heat from deep underground to surge upward toward the surface. Native Americans used to set up camp by the hot springs in what is now Utah, recognizing their potential as prized natural resources.

Originally published 19 February 2007, at Sentido.tv; more to come from Café Sentido on geothermal and other renewable resource technologies…

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STEAM-DRIVEN PROCESS USING DEEP UNDERGROUND VENTS TO SUPER-HEAT WATER COULD BE ‘NEARLY INEXHAUSTIBLE’ RESOURCE

The race to tap large quantities of underground, geothermal energy is heating up. In a recent bid to solve their country’s demand for clean energy, the Swiss are digging deep, and the Earth is responding. A scientist at MIT, in the US, says 40% of US geothermal sources could power the entire country’s energy needs in excess of 56,000 times.

At a cost of $51 million so far, the Swiss experiment in delving under the earth’s crust has proven successful. The plan is to circulate water deep into the ground using shafts a bit larger than those used in drilling for oil, except pumping water and gaining access to high levels of heat, enough to harness the capacity to run a steam turbine and power an estimated 10,000 homes and offices.

The type of geothermal hot rock technology is called ‘enhanced geothermal systems,’ and drills into very hot granite at 400 degrees F. Even though the holes dug for these systems are deep, it only scratches the earth’s surface and remains well away from the inner regions. 99% of the earth’s interior is even hotter, at about 1000 degrees, where the technology is not designed to go, and where human science cannot yet reach without justfiable concerns about undesirable magma or gas leaks.

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The science seems straighforward enough, but there may be a catch. In early December, the country registered a magnitude 3.4 tremor in response to Geothermal Basel’s project to gain access to this untapped energy source. Coursing water through bored holes in the earth several miles deep has destabilized subsurface layers of crust causing shifts. The resulting tremors throughout the Basel region alarmed authorities enough to temporarily halt activity.

Clean and in ample supply, geothermal energy has the potential to power the current global population and much more without degrading the environment. The drawbacks include cost of drilling and stiff price competition from current fossil fuel extraction. Scientists say that certain hot rock source supplies, that cost about $7 to $8 million to drill, provide energy for only a limited amount of time, requiring a new source to be found after maybe just a decade.

Other countries in the race for geothermal supplies for their energy deficits include the US and Australia. According to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientist, Professor Jefferson Tester, “the resource base for geothermal is enormous,” adding that, as noted above, just 40% of potential geothermal resources in the US could power the entire country’s energy needs more than 56,000 times over. By 2050 geothermal could outproduce the country’s combined nuclear power capability and without any of the environmental costs. Despite funding the MIT study, the US Department of Energy has a limited budget of $2 million for hot rock technology and has no current allocation for more.

There is also little support from the US’s largest suppliers of fossil fuels, including Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobile Corp. and American Electric Power. These energy giants are watching the progress of geothermal energy extraction but are spending zero money in the technology.

Geothermal energy is used in all over the world, in 24 different countries.

• Discovery: “Energy Search Goes Underground”