Spanish Fork Windmills

[RobinFinderson]

Robin, have you heard of ocean thermal energy recovery? Very cool idea.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1...aven&topic_set

This is essentially a heat pump, which is very old technology (your refrigerator uses a heat pump).

The idea of harnessing heat differentials in the ocean seems good to me. Environmentalists are naturally concerned about the long-term ecological effects of pumping warm water into the ocean's abyss. If it can be determined that we can tap enough of this energy without significantly altering the ecology of our oceans, then this is a fantastic idea.

[The Wankster]

If you disagree, what is your solution?

I am not per say disagreeing, I am simply saying that it is not an energy that is without side effects, serious side effects if you care about what happens in the future.

The problem is that everyone wants *FREE* energy solutions, Nukes aren't free, or even very cheap, when you add in the cost of disposal. Find a way to cheaply dispose of the spent stuff on the Suns surface, and you will have an extremely cheap energy source. Until then NIMBY is the phrase of the day concerning spent Nukes.

[RobinFinderson]

The problem with Nukes is the leftover spent, but not quite spent fuels.

Once they can find a way to ship this stuff to the Sun for it's final resting place, then Nukes will become the only form of energy to utilize. Until then it is a HUGE problem with obviously long term ramifications.

This is exactly why nuclear is a stopgap at best. The problem of nuclear waste is serious. Way may figure that nuclear is a viable transitional technology, on the way to hydrogen and renewables, but until we come up with a solution for the waste, nuclear will only be a stopgap solution.

[JohnnyLingo]

I am not per say disagreeing, I am simply saying that it is not an energy that is without side effects, serious side effects if you care about what happens in the future.

And I'm saying there is no perfect energy source available right now.

The problem is that everyone wants *FREE* energy solutions, Nukes aren't free, or even very cheap, when you add in the cost of disposal. Find a way to cheaply dispose of the spent stuff on the Suns surface, and you will have an extremely cheap energy source. Until then NIMBY is the phrase of the day concerning spent Nukes.

Of course, then we'll one day find out that launching our nuclear waste onto the surface of the sun will cause it to go supernova in the next 50 years.

[JohnnyLingo]

This is exactly why nuclear is a stopgap at best. The problem of nuclear waste is serious. Way may figure that nuclear is a viable transitional technology, on the way to hydrogen and renewables, but until we come up with a solution for the waste, nuclear will only be a stopgap solution.

That's fine. Let's use it.

[Jeff Lebowski]

This is essentially a heat pump, which is very old technology (your refrigerator uses a heat pump).

lol. Yeah, I know what a heat pump is.

[RobinFinderson]

lol. Yeah, I know what a heat pump is.

Of course you do... I was speaking for the benefit of the rabble.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Of course you do... I was speaking for the benefit of the rabble.

Does your arch. firm design many geothermal heat pumps for buildings? I hear they are getting popular.

[RobinFinderson]

Does your arch. firm design many geothermal heat pumps for buildings? I hear they are getting popular.

I haven't worked on these, but as you point out, they are getting popular. The US construction industry is really backwards on things like this.

[The Wankster]

Does your arch. firm design many geothermal heat pumps for buildings? I hear they are getting popular.

There is a building in Utah that just completed the install on one of these systems, it is a intriguing technology to say the least.

Wells are approx. 400 feet deep to get the water, circulate into heat pump unit, thru exchanger device, into building. Water is pumped back into ground, reheated, and recirculated.

Talk about renewable.....

[KillerDog]

There is a building in Utah that just completed the install on one of these systems, it is a intriguing technology to say the least.

Wells are approx. 400 feet deep to get the water, circulate into heat pump unit, thru exchanger device, into building. Water is pumped back into ground, reheated, and recirculated.

Talk about renewable.....

Funny story, one of the law firms in SLC has renovated a turn of the century mansion on South Temple into their offices. During the renovation they installed a heat pump of the type you are referring to. The funny part of the story...they are a law firm that specializes in fossil fuel related law.