Don't just focus on cars!

Among the sectors that use energy, transportation and residential take the top spots. While much focus is placed on making vehicles more fuel efficient(rightly!), there isn't much buzz around making residences more fuel efficient. Data from DOE, shows clearly that we get most of energy for residential heating from LPG and electricity, solar the only alternative source mentioned is negligible (<0.05). Here is a geothermal map of the North America.

"Geothermal energy is contained in underground reservoirs of steam, hot water, and hot dry rocks. As used at electric generating facilities, hot water or steam extracted from geothermal reservoirs in the Earth's crust is supplied to steam turbines at electric utilities that drive generators to produce electricity. Moderate-to-low termperature geothermal resources are used for direct-use applications such as district and space heating. Lower temperature, shallow ground, geothermal resources are used by geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool buildings.


...3,000 sq. ft. house in Oklahoma City has a verified average electric bill of $60 per month - using a geothermal heat pump. -DOE"

An inspiring case study can be found in Midland, SD. Here a school harnesses geothermal power to heat its building - since 1969. Here is more on the school.