The Heat Beneath Our Feet Could Cut U.S. Electric Bills
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
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Provided by Climate Central
What it is
- This 3-minute video and brief article detail a Massachusetts community's energy switch, marking new potential for geothermal.
- The resource discusses innovations using magnets to tap into underground heat and make geothermal energy more accessible.
Teaching tips
Positives
- It is fun to hear the woman in the video speak so excitedly about her geothermal energy system.
- This resource may give students hope for innovative solutions.
Prerequisites
- This builds off of students' prior knowledge about the impact of burning fossil fuels on the climate. It may also benefit students to be familiar with geothermal energy as an energy source.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can pair this resource with this ebook on wind, solar, and geothermal energy to give students an understanding of clean energy.
- To give students background on geothermal energy in places like Iceland, where geothermal heat is closer to the surface, teachers can use this video.
- The caption for the video cites AI data centers as a reason for increasing energy needs. This can spark a conversation about the cost of the increasing use of AI in terms of energy use.
- Teachers can use this resource to make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy.
From the scientist review
This resource discusses how geothermal energy is a climate-friendly way to heat and cool buildings and generate electricity, as electricity costs and demand keep rising. It also discusses how geothermal energy is becoming more accessible, which can help people feel hopeful. The resource is a media package for news stations to use; it includes a video and links to additional resources. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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