Iceland uses geothermal for everything—heating 90% of homes and even baking bread in volcanic ground. Their national dish, rúgbrauð, is literally buried in the earth to cook.
In the U.S., Yellowstone National Park sits on a massive supervolcano that powers the world’s largest geothermal system. Old Faithful isn’t just a tourist trap; it’s a reminder that the Earth is breathing.
Pop culture reference: Remember the Lord of the Rings volcanoes? That’s geothermal energy on a dramatic, Middle-earth scale. Just less orc-friendly.
Peoples in some countries use this energy for cooking and heating
Practical Tips for the Curious and the Green
Thinking about going geothermal at home? Start with a site assessment. Not every yard has a hot spring, but a simple loop system works in most climates.
For renters, try a small-scale approach: plug-in geothermal heat pumps for single rooms exist, though they’re less efficient. Or just visit a local public geothermal pool—like the ones in Boise, Idaho or Beppu, Japan
Fun micro-fact: The Earth’s interior temperature is about the same as the surface of the sun—5,400°C. So yes, we’re basically sitting on a star that’s been cooling for 4.5 billion years.
