Eartheating

Eartheating is a term used to describe the use of the Earth's interior heat to provide heating and related energy services. The Earth’s interior holds heat from planetary formation and ongoing radioactive decay, which creates a continuous heat flow toward the surface. This heat can be accessed at shallow depths through natural ground temperatures that remain relatively stable year-round, or at greater depths via geothermal reservoirs and engineered systems.

Methods commonly associated with eartheating include ground-source heat pumps, which transfer heat between buildings and the surrounding ground to supply winter heating and summer cooling; direct-use geothermal systems, which employ hot water from wells or springs for space heating, greenhouse heating, or industrial processes; and enhanced or engineered geothermal systems, which create artificial reservoirs by stimulating hot rock to permit fluid circulation.

Advantages of eartheating include low onsite emissions, high energy efficiency, and the potential for reliable baseload heating in appropriate regions. Limitations involve higher upfront capital costs, the need for suitable geological resources, and environmental considerations such as groundwater quality, land use, or, in some areas, induced seismicity related to subsurface activities.

Applications range from residential and commercial heating to district heating networks and certain industrial processes. While geothermal electricity generation exists, eartheating typically emphasizes heat provision, with electricity as a possible co-product in some systems.

History and development reflect a long-standing interest in direct geothermal use and the modern expansion of heat pump technology, drilling techniques, and reservoir management, which continue to influence the domestic and industrial adoption of eartheating.