This resource is widespread in the U.S., and is used to heat homes and offices, commercial greenhouses, fish farms, food processing facilities, gold mining operations , and a variety of other applications. Directly using geothermal energy in homes and commercial operations is much less expensive than using traditional fuels. Operations Using Heat Directly from the Earth District and Space Heating . In the U.S., more than 120 operations, with hundreds of individual systems at some sites, are using geothermal energy for district and space heating. District systems distribute hydrothermal water from one or more geothermal wells through a series of pipes to several individual houses and buildings, or blocks of buildings.
Space heating uses one well per structure.
The tremendous potential for district heating in the western U.S. was illustrated in a 1980s inventory which identified 1,277 geothermal sites within 5 miles of 373 cities in 8 states. Greenhouse and Aquaculture Facilities . The relatively rural location of most geothermal resources also offers advantages, including clean air, few disease problems, clean water, a stable workforce, and, often, low taxes. Industrial and Commercial Uses . Industrial applications include food dehydration, laundries, gold mining, milk pasteurizing, spas, and others.