Geothermal Energy

NPR had a bit about a new geothermal energy study performed by MIT which claims that "...mining the huge amounts of heat that reside as stored thermal energy in the Earth's hard rock crust could supply a substantial portion of the electricity the United States will need in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact." So all we need to do is drill down a mile, inject water which is boiled by the earth's heat, and channel the steam back to turbines on the surface. Sounds great.

There are a few drawbacks, among them being a shortage of water in the parts of the country where the hot spots are most readily available (west), and the possibility that drilling into and fracturing rock may cause earthquakes like this one in Switzerland.

I honestly haven't heard of this type of geothermal energy before, but am familiar with the geothermal heating and cooling available in all sizes. I've been in a home equipped with a system that simply had the pipes laid underground throughout the yard. I've also seen them work very well with the pipe coils in nearby ponds or lakes. I commented on TreeHugger here about how geothermal deserves a lot more press.

Fort Wayne is actually home to a large geothermal company called WaterFurnace International, as well as some smaller businesses.

If you are in the market, please do a little research on geothermal for your heating and cooling. You will be amazed at what it has to offer.

Oak Farm Montessori

We were very surprised to find, just a short drive north of our house in Avilla, Indiana, a fantastic place called... "Oak Farm Montessori School and Oak Bridge Montessori Middle School provide a unique opportunity for each student to be at home in the world of nature. Strengthening a child’s connection with nature and the environment is an important part of our curriculum. We seek to give students, parents, and faculty a reverence for the earth, its waters, and all living things. We also encourage caring for the environment based on our individual responsibility for the beauty of the land and the health of our ecosystems. We believe that being at home in the world of nature is basic to being a whole and healthy person."

By that read, you're probably picturing some hippie teachers with dreads working in Quonset huts. Quite the contrary! I toured the school and it was amazing. It is located on an old farm, with a few buildings into which the different ages are segregated. I toured the youngest-age building, which is a renovated/added onto beautiful Victorian home. I was simply amazed at the facility and by watching the kids interact. I won't go into the Montessori methods, but I suggest you do if you have little ones or plan to.

Our application is to be submitted any day.

Natural 'Hoods

I wrote before about green neighborhoods, and today TreeHugger has a post about an article in Natural Home Magazine that rates America's top 10 Eco-Neighborhoods. No. 1 is the West Asheville Neighborhood in Asheville NC, followed by the South Congress Neighborhood in Austin TX. A newbie in the eco-world is Indiana's own Fall Creek Place in Indianapolis, ranked No. 7. I'll have to take a drive through next time I go down to wrangle with the regulators.