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The water filling abandoned mine tunnels could be a major geothermal resource, both on the Keweenaw Peninsula and across the United States.
Tech Today reports that student researchers at Michigan Tech have put together the first comprehensive guidebook communities can use to explore the feasibility of utilizing mine water for geothermal energy to heat and cool buildings.
While there is great potential for this resource, there are less than 30 active mine water geothermal systems in the world. One is at Michigan Tech’s Keweenaw Research Center in Houghton County.
The research team will present their work to the public in Calumet this evening in the atrium of the CLK School from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Community members can interact with a tabletop model showing how mine water geothermal works, calculate the distance from their own home to the nearest mine shaft and make approximate cost calculations for installation and pay-back using a calculator tool.
People of all ages are welcome.
The team then travels to Washington D.C. to present their work at the Sustainable Design Expo, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.
