The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/geothermal-energy/)
In an open meeting on Thursday, the Cornell University Borehole Observatory project team discussed their progress thus far and future plans.
On June 20, the Cornell Borehole Observatory began drilling into the Earth. Their goal is to reach a deep depth where there is natural heat sufficient to heat all of campus.
With a limited supply of fossil fuels, the University has explored alternative energy options. In 2009, the University set its sights on using Earth Source Heat, a sustainable type of geothermal heat that rests deep underground, to heat the campus.
During the week of June 13, Cornell will begin drilling the Cornell University Borehole Observatory, an initiative to explore the geothermal heating resources below Cornell’s campus.
The sculptors “moved over 2.5 tons of local soil material by hand to create a custom-poured earth mix,” according to the CCA website.
Geothermal energy utilizes heat stored within the Earth, such as hot water, gases or rocks located beneath the Earth’s surface. This energy is renewable and environmentally friendly, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
With the historic agreement of the COP21 summit in Paris in December 2015, the international community collectively resolved to keep the rising temperatures under 2 degrees Celsius. It marked the world’s commitment to tackling global warming and encourages research and innovation would that keep the earth sustainable for future generations. With the renewed interest in lowering world temperatures, and the rapid depletion of fossil fuel reservoirs, it is important to look towards newer sources to fulfill the world’s energy requirements. Alternate energy resources like solar and wind power have been important allies in the strive to sustainability. An unconventional source of energy that has not received as much attention, however is geothermal energy.