{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02273407119353874, 'fraction_numerical': 0.008375710439724798, 'mean_word_length': 4.897707231040564, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Geothermal energy--a viable energy source for health facilities.

THIS NATION HAS A TREMENDOUS SOURCE of efficient, nonpolluting, and always available energy. It lies under every square inch of land; yet it is seldom mentioned and little used. This energy source is geothermal-literally meaning earth heat. Geothermal energy has been used in some areas of the world for centuries. Up to now it has been tapped primarily in areas where the heat of the earth draws attention to its existence through hot springs and geysers. However, our present-day ability to use this energy has expanded beyond the areas of warm springs or other natural phenomena. Geothermal wells are now drilled deliberately to tap this energy source. Indeed the potential for geothermal energy is much greater even than its existing uses portend. All 15 Western States have hot water resources (see map), and a Federal survey shows that 37 States have low-to-moderate-temperature resources (1). Within the next 20 years geothermal energy should supply 7 to 10 percent of our nation's domestic hot water and space-heating requirements. Therefore, the direct heat application of geothermal energy warrants serious investigation. From the perspective of the health care system, geothermal energy resources are widespread, are currently available, and can be used for practically all activities requiring large quantities of heat at relatively low temperatures. At least six health facilities are either already using this low-cost, dependable energy source or are in the process of converting to its use. In this paper I will review the nature of geothermal energy, outline the advantages of this energy resource, and show why it is a particularly viable choice for health facilities. One of the oldest uses of geothernal energy is for space heating. Geothermal energy has been directly used for this purpose and to heat water for bathing for centuries in different parts of the world. During the 13th century, hot springs were recreation sites, as well as the source of sulphur and other minerals used in trade. In the United States, geothermal space heating has been used successfully since the turn of the century in parts of Idaho and Oregon. The most significant developinents in its application outside of the United States are in Iceland, New Zealand, the USSR, Japan, Italy, Mexico, El Salvador, and Hungary. Several other countries also use geothermal energy, but to a lesser degree. In Iceland, about one half of the entire residential heating requirements of the nation are being met by geothermal energy sources; by 1982, 80 to 85 percent of the country's 226,339 residents will be kept warm with geothermal energy. The most dramatic example of direct application of this source is in Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, where about 97 percent of the residents are supplied heat from the geothermal municipal heating project. Lessons from Iceland, as well as from other countries that tap geothermal energy, show that conversion to a geothermal fuel system is a relatively simple process. The technology is available, has been tested, and is adaptable. These are important considerations for the managers of health facilities, who need to be assured that they are not breaking ground in a new and untried technology. The most common heating systems in health facilities