It is said everywhere that geothermal energy is ecological and renewable, but what is its impact on the environment compared to other energy sources used for heating systems? We evaluated the five main types of heating used in Quebec, and here is how they ranked …
Simply put, all other energy sources are more ecological… Oil combustion is extremely polluting… CO2, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and so on. Its impact on the environment is therefore very negatice. Avoid!
Natural gas has a less harmful environmental record than coal and oil. It is certainly better than oil and its combustion is the cleanest source of fossil energy. But it comes from Alberta by pipelines, whose installation is controversial. Furthermore, it can contain a certain proportion of shale gas, which are subject to strong controversy because of their polluting extraction methods. So its impact on the environment remains quite negative overall.
In Quebec, electric heating is often considered more environmentally friendly compared to heating with fossil fuel furnaces. Electricity generated by hydroelectric dams is low in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. On the other hand, it is controversial because of the important impacts of the dams on the landscape and on biodiversity –this is why electric heating methods, such as baseboard heaters, are in 3rd place.
This category includes solid fuels such as hardwood, granules and chips, liquids such as wood oils and bioethanol, and gases such as biomethane. Biomass does not create carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is consumed as a source of energy; it only rejects some of what it has absorbed. However, it requires large amounts of energy, usually from fossil sources, to be exploited, which darkens its carbon footprint and slightly increases its impact on the environment.
By using the planet’s renewable and clean energy, geothermal energy emits no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or greenhouse gases, which are considered to be the main contributors to air pollution. Its main impact on the environment comes from the electrical consumption of the heat pump, but it is less than all other systems. Indeed, it consumes up to 4X less energy than electric baseboards. This means that it helps to reduce energy demand during peak periods. Since geothermal energy is not polluting at all, it can be said to have an almost zero impact on the environment. And what’s more, geothermal energy can reduce heating costs by 70%!
