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USP engineers are advancing with the technique of superficial geothermal energy, which can reduce the value of the electricity bill by up to 40% and eliminate the use of air conditioning in some homes
In the future, traditional air conditioning will be replaced by a cleaner and more economical system. USP engineers are studying surface geothermal energy, which uses pipes to extract fresh air from underground, where temperatures are lower than on the surface. This technology promises to significantly reduce energy consumption and provide a more sustainable environment. With the implementation of this innovation, the electricity bill can decrease and the environmental impact of air conditioning systems will be reduced.
How does surface geothermal energy work?
The project, which will put an end to air conditioning, was developed by the team of professor Cristina de Hollanda Cavalcanti Tsuha, from USP, more precisely from the partnership between the School of Engineering of São Carlos and colleagues from the Polytechnic School.
USP engineers will test the application of surface geothermal energy through pipes placed inside elements of the foundations that support the buildings. Once this is done, a machine is responsible for pumping water through pipes down there. The water cools with the subsoil temperature and returns to air-condition the surface, making the use of air conditioning unnecessary and reducing the value of water. electricity bill.
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The USP project coordinator says that the idea is to use polyethylene tubes and it will be the first building to use surface geothermal energy for foundations in SP, and possibly even throughout Brazil, not least because no other has been seen so far.
System that will replace the air conditioning can reach a temperature of 23°C
The surface geothermal energy system is functional because the ground never warms or cools compared to the surface. At a few meters deep, the temperature always remains at the region's average, as is the case in the western region of São Paulo, where the tests are being carried out, whose soil temperature is generally 23°C, despite reaching 30°C on the surface.
According to engineers from USP, the surface geothermal energy system is capable of reducing the electricity bill by 40% to 60% in commercial buildings, including hotels and hospitals. According to experts, air conditioning is responsible for half of the electricity bill in a company and 25% in an average home.
What is missing to use surface geothermal energy in Brazilian homes?
According to the researcher, the system still needs a pump to send the liquid through the pipe and bring it back. In Europe, the technique has been working for some time, where surface geothermal energy is used to heat or cool buildings.
Since the 80s, surface geothermal energy has been used in skyscrapers and other buildings in countries such as the USA and Austria. In addition, the coordinator of the engineers also explains that taking advantage of the constant subsoil temperature is widely used to store wines in France, or even in other older cases, such as ancestors who hid in caves to protect themselves from low or high temperatures above from the surface.
Geothermal energy gains prominence in Brazil
Geothermal energy, a renewable and sustainable source, has gained prominence in Brazil due to its potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. In the country, this technology is being explored mainly in areas of greater geothermal activity, such as Vale do Ribeira and São Pedro National Park, both in São Paulo.
USP is at the forefront of this research, developing systems that use underground heat for air conditioning and electricity generation. These projects not only seek energy efficiency, but also aim to integrate geothermal energy into national electrical grids, promoting a more sustainable future.
The application of this technology could revolutionize industrial and residential sectors, providing a viable and ecological alternative to conventional energy sources.
