When most people think of renewable energy, they think about the generation of electric power through something like a solar panel array or a wind farm that’s connected to the grid just as we’ve long been doing with fossil fuels. Now, you’re probably also aware that these sources can be used to generate electricity at the site of use, such as when solar panels are placed on the roof of a private residence to offset consumption from the grid. What many of us don’t know, however, is that there’s another way that renewable energy can be used directly in our homes and businesses, at least if you’re fortunate enough to have it available where you live and work. We’re talking about geothermal energy, or heat energy emanating from the Earth’s core. Famously used to power almost the entirety of countries like Iceland and Costa Rica, geothermal energy is also suitable for private and commercial applications. In fact, Iceland provides a great example of just how powerful geothermal energy can be, as they not only use geothermal energy to produce electric power, but have also found myriad clever ways to make use of this source more directly. One such example can be seen on the streets of Reykjavik, where hot water pumped from the ground is fed under the roads and sidewalks to keep surfaces clear and ice-free, instead of relying on more expensive, time-consuming, and ineffective salting and plowing. The point is, geothermal energy doesn’t just produce electric power, but its heat energy can be used directly for countless applications. Another such example is that of the geothermal greenhouse, which uses heat from the Earth to warm a greenhouse to create the appropriate environment for growing plants. However, it’s not as simple as merely building a greenhouse on a warm patch of ground, and it requires innovative technology to make the most out of this futuristic agrotech.